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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. rrata to pelure. J 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 / THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. BV THOMAS S. SHENSTON, BRANTFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA. " God SO loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that ivhosocvcr bclicveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."— Jo/tn ui. 16. ••Let God be true, but ever man a liar." — liom. iii. 4. SECOND AND ENLARGED EDITION. LONDON, ENGLAND: ^ ELLIOT STOCK, G2, PATERNOSTEE EOW. TO ALL THOSE WHO, LIKE THE Ja:leB AT rHILlPPI, ABE ASKING "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" THIS WOKK 18 MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOn, Come, sinner, to the gospel feast; Oil ! come witJiout delay ; For there is room in Jesus' breast For all who will obey. There's room in God's eternal love To save thy precious soul ; Koom in the Spirit'., grace above To heal and make thee whole. There's room around thy Father's board, For thee and thousands more ; Oh, come and welcome to the Lord ; Yea, come this very hour. THE PREFACE. Fon the past five-and-twenty years I have occapied a somewhat pro- mment position in one of the largest Churches and Sunday Schools in Canada, and my mind has long hcen exercised at noticing that so large a percentage of those attending such means of grace throughout the country arc not connected with any Church, though evidently more or less anxious about their salvation, or they would not be found BO regular in their attendance at such places. This class have ready access, in our Sunday School libraries and elsewhere, to such Tin one sense) suitable books as Pike's Early Piety, Oiceiron Forgivenett, BunyarVs Inviting Works, James's Anxious Inquirer, Christ knocking at the Boor, and many other similar works, the reading of which could not fail of imparting spiritual profit, but the great diflicnlty is they are scarcely ever read by the class for whose especial benefit they are provided. They consider them too " dry" and " solid" to suit their tastes, while those of the " light " and novel style, which are scarcely even tinctured with sound Scriptural knowledge, arc sought out and read with eagerness. I have long been of the opinion that the same truths that arc taught in such works as the above might be presented in a much more attractive form ; and within the last ten years I have written to at least a score of well-known authors in Great Britain, the United States and Canada, suggesting the publication of some such work ; though all admitted such a want, none were willing to supply it. Until I had thus signally failed, it never once occurred to me to make the attempt myself. Nor do I now attempt to write such a book, but I have tremblingly ventured the task of getting up one such ; and if any credit is due for the same it will be merely for the selections and arrangements, inasmuch as there are but few pages of original matter in the whole work. I certainly could not have been induced to have taken the trouble I have was it not my honest conviction that a real good might be VI PREFACE. thereby accomplished which wonld otherwise rcmftin undone. I now Kpread the whole contents before the Lord, as did Hezekiah the lotter of Sennacherib (2 Kings xix. 14), and do sc with much less hesi- tancy than I commit it to the criticism of my fellow-creatures. Honestly believing that the work is calculated to do good, it natur- ally follows that I should desire its circulation, especially among tho class to which allusion has already been made. I earnestly solicit the kind aid of all those who may read and approve of it. In this age of books I despair of being able to wedge this into public notice without some such assistance. T. S. S. Branfford, Ontario. 1879. All hail the power of Jesus' name ! Let angels prostrate fall ; Bring forth the royal diadem. And crown Him Lord of all. Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget The wormwood and the gall. Go, spread your trophies at His feet, And crown Him Lord of all. Te chosen seed of Israel's race, — Ye ransomed from the fall, — Hail Him who saves you by His grace. And crown Him Lord of all. Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all. FIRST LINES OF HYIVINS. I - — »^ < PAOR A debtor to morcj' alone 243 A long tirao I wautlcrod in darkness . . . . . . . . 88 Alas! and did my Saviour bleed 113 •• Almost persuiidod " now to believe . . . . . , . . 253 Arise my soul, arise . . . . . . . . , . . . . . (52 Asleep in Jesus ! blessed sleep . . . . . , . . . . 43 Asleep in Jesus ! peaceful rest . . . . . . . . . . 50 BoRone, unbelief, my Saviour is near . . . . . . . . 5 Behold a stranger at the door . . . . 77 Behold the Saviour at the door 105 Chief of sinners though I be .. .. 24S) Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove 180 Come humble sinner, in whose breast .. .. .. .. 210 Come, sinner, to the Gospel feast . . . . . . . . . . 4G Come, ye sinners, poor and needy . . .. .. .. .. 12& Come ye souls by sin afflicted 18ti Delay not, delay not 2 Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss . . 23 Faith is a very slender thing ' . . . . . . . . . . 1)0 Faith is not what we feel or see 157 Free from the law, oh, happy condition . . . . . . . . 14 Fully persuaded, Lord, I believe 70 Gentle Jesus, can it be . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Give me the wings of faith to rise . . . . . . . . . . 19 God moves in a mysterious way . . . . 174 Go to dark Gcthsemauc 135 Have you on the Lord believed 107 He loved the world that hated Him . . . . . . . . 190 How can I sink with such a prop . . . . . . . . . . 12 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord . . . . . . 92 How lost was my condition 122 How loving is Jesus, who came from the sky 125 ▼Ill FIItST USES OF IIYMSS. I I'AOR How sad our state by nature is U>0 How solemn are the wonls IIH How tedious and tasteless the hours 69 I am coming to the cross 95 I am weary, Lord, of dwelling 223 I asked the Lord that I might grow . . . . 1*J1 I gave my life for thee 176 I have heard of a Saviour's love 242 I hear the Saviour say . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 I know not the hour when my Lord will come 283 I leave it all with Jesus day by day 102 I need Thee every hour, most gracious (»od . . . . . . ir>8 If I must die, oh let me die 185 If you cannot on the ocean . . . . . . 10 In evil long I took dehght .. .. 141 Inscribed upon the cross we see . . . . . . . . . . 79 In the cross of Christ I glory 8 In the floods of tribulation 5 I once was a stranger to grace and to God 60 I saw One hanging on a tree . . . . . . . . . . 166 I work, and own my labour vain 27 I would not live alway ; I ask not to stay 112 Jesus I will trust Thee 197 Jesus keep me near the cross . . . . . . . . . . 117 Jesus, lover of my soul . . . . 18 J'^BUs, my Lord, to Thee I cry 193 Jesus the water of Life has given 73 Just as I am, and waiting not 58 Just as thou art — without one trace 220 Lo, on a narrow neck of land 218 Looking only to Jesus, the Crucified One 99 Lord, I approach Thine awful throne 138 Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole 170 • Mourner, wheresoe'er thou art 86 My faith looks up to Thee 83 My hope is built on nothing less 48 My soul, be on thy guard 151 Nearer, my God, to Thee 6 FIRST LINKS OF HYMNS. Ix PAOB Not a cnro is liovrring o'or rao 208 Not all tlic blood t»f beastrt 9» Not ftll the cmtwnnl forms on earth . . . . . . . . 42 Not faith we trust, 'tis Christ alono 224 Nothing either j,'rfat or smnll Hi Now is the acceptcil time . . . . . . . . . . . . lOS Oh, to bo uotliing .. 21 O, happy (lay that fixctl ray choice 101 Oh have yo . marked on the lips of the dying 201 Oh, why should i Lio spirit of mortal bo pri)iid 18-1 O my (»od wliit must I do? 244 One glan' J jf Thine, ct"' wtl Lord , . . . . . . . . . 200 On Jordan's stonny V'.aiks I stand. . . . . . . . , . 54 O thou, my Bonl. forget no more 82 Plunged in a gulf of dark despair 110 Rescue the perishing, care lor the dving . . , . . . . . 50 Restraining prayer, we erase to fight .. .. .. .. 12G Rock of ages, cleft for me 146 Safe in the arms of Josus . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Shall we meet beyond the river , . . 7(1 Sister, thou wast mild and lovely . . . . . . . . . . 16iJ Sinners, will you scorn the message . . . . . . . . 2 ■ ' Sowing the seed by the dawnlight fair 230 Stand up ! stand iip ! for Jesus . . . . . . . . . . 28 Sweet the moments, rich in blessing . . . . . . . . 228 Tarry not. Lord, any more, we pray . . . . . . . . 215 The cross, the cross, the blood-stained cross .. .. .. 36 The great physician now is near . . . . . . . . . . 25 There is a land mine eye hath seen . . . . . . . . 17S There is a fountain filled with blood . . . . . . . . 66 There is a gate that stands ajar . . . . 119 There's a beautiful land on high . . . . . . . . . . 131 There is life for a look at the crucified one . . . , . . 205 They are gathering homeward from every land . . . . . . 195 Thou art gone to the grave . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 'Tis a point I long to know . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 " 'Tis finished ! " so the Saviour cried 168 Thy works, not mine, Christ . . . . 238 FIRST LINES OF HYMNS. PAOE 'Tis religion that can give . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Troubled in spirit, broktn in heart. . .. .. .. .. 53 Unvail thy bosom, faithful tomb 167 We speak of the realms of the blest . . . . . . . . 60 What Jesus is, and that alone . . . . . . . . . . 160 What's this that steals upon my frame . . . . . . . . 75 When wounded sore the stricken soul . > . . . . . . 203 When languor and disease invade . . . . . . . . . . 22 ^Vhcn any, through a beam of light . . . . . . . . 34 When thy mortal life is fled 87 Why do we mourn departing friends . . . . . . . . 164 Whosoever heareth, shout, shout, the sound . . . . * • 154 " Whosoever will," the promise is secure . . . . . . ,. 64 ^ LIST OF AUTHOES AND WORKS. PAGR Archibald, Dr. Alexander . . 157 Belchor, llcv. Joseph . . 149 Berridgo, Rev. John . . 15-4 Biblical Museum . . 49, 102 Bonar, Eev. Andrew . . 173 Booth, Kev. Abraham 173, 209 Boswell . . . . . . 43 Boyd, Rev. Robert . . 107, IGu Braincrd. Rev. D. .. 88,242 British Workman . . 70 Brooks, Rev. James H. . . 98 Brooks, Thomas . . 92, 107, 247 Bruce, Mr. R 43 Bunvan, Jolm.ll, 84, 100,119,120 Carey, Dr. . . 149, 233 Carpenter, F. B I8l Calvin, John. . .. .. 244 (runn, Rev. H , Rev Chalmers, Dr. Choice Sayings Christian Guardian . . Christian Secretary. . Christian Weekly . . Closiufs Scenes Cone, Rev. Spencer H. Cramp, Rev. J. M. . . Cowper, Jolni . . Cumming, Rw. John Doddridge, Dr. .. 04 .. 202 .. 215 .. 12 90, 145 70,80 .. 100 .. 32 .. 100 109 21 24, Dullield.Rev. G.Jun.l02, 108,112 Evangelical Record . . 195 Fenelon . . . , . . Finney, Rev. C. G 82 Fleming, Rev. James . . 90 Fuller, Rev. Andrew . . 110 Fuller, Rev. Richard, D.D. 114 Fyfe, Rev. R. A 109 Gall, Rev. James . . . . 192 Gano, Stephen . . . . 110 Gardner, E. P 61 Cxoulburn, Dean . . . . 108 Gospel Work 246 Grace and Truth .. .. 231 Grande Ligne Mission Report 216 I'AOE W. A 70 . J. B 25 • • • • • ■ XU*9 Newman 127, 152, 204 . . 90 Haldane Hall, Rev Hall, Rev. Robert Hallock, Rev. Jeremiah .. 171 Hams, Dr. John . . . . 179 Harvey, Rev. James . . 06 Hill, Rev. Rowland . . 107 How to get Pence . . 190, 241 How to Beheve . . . . 180 Inglis, Rev. James . . . . 78 Illustrated Christian Weekly 87 Janeway, Rev. John . . 129 Johnston, Rev. James .. 29 Krishna Pal 80 93, 30 173 101 235 .. 211 23, 135 .. 90 Landon, Rev. W. H. Malan, Rev. C. Mason, Rev. John . . Mills, Thomas Milller, Rev. George Moody, D. L. Moreli, Stephen McCheyne, Rev. R. M. 13, 173, 244 McLaurin, Rev. John . . 229 Napoleon I. . . . . . . 7 Northern Christian Advocate 93, 97 Oriental Baptist Ouseley, Rev. Gideon Owen, Rev. Dr. Page, Professor Palmer, Rev. Dr. Payson, Rev. Edward Pearce, Rev. Samuel Pilgrim's Progress . . Precious Truths Punshon, Rev. W. M. Religious Tract Reid, Rev. William . . Rhodes, Rev. William Rhodes, Mrs. Rev. Wm. 219 9, 229 .. 217 203 177 28 179 84 .. 199 .. 31 197, 223 .. 241 .. 68 .. 138 00, 'i V xu PARTIAL lilEMOIIiS. ! K , Mrs. L. B. . . P\OE .. 131 Richmontl, Rev. Loigh ., 220 RutlicrforJ, Sfiraucl 6, 138 Ryle, Rev. .J. C. 94, 158 Scott, Rev. Thomas .. 60 Six Months iu the Wliito House .. 181 Smith, Sarah L. .. 166 Spurgeon, Rev. C. H. 1, 20, 33, 35, 56, 90, 103, 120, 139, 159, 175, 202. Strange Tales .. 76 PAOK Talmagc, Rev. T. De Witt, 201 Tne Diiy Star . , . . 147 Tho Ilhistrated Weekly . . 210 The Way of Salvation . . 249 The Witness 44 Trestrail, Rev. Frederick . . 150 Warren, Rev. J. P 18a Waylaml, Rev. Francis 34, 102, 135, 200, 248. Wesley, Rev. .John . . . . 126' Whittelsey, CM 51 Willard Tract, A 46. n/ PAETIAL MEMOIKS OF A Prayerless Young Man A Sinner An Infidel Young Man A. B., Miss . . . . B , Miss Ellen Berridge, Rev. John Brainord, Rov. Daird Bruce, Mr. Robert Carey, Rev. Dr. . . Chalmers, Rev. Thomas Clegg, Miss Elizabeth Cobb, Mr. Nathanael Cockerton, Alfred, W Cone, Rev. Spencer H. Dairyman's Daughter Doddridge, Dr. Eastman, Rev. Dr. , . Feller, Madam Finney, Rev. Chas. Cr. Fleming, Rev. James Fyfe, Rev. R. A. Gabriel Thomas Geno Stephen Hall, Robert . . Hallock, Rev. Jeremiah Harvey, Rev. James Hoare, Miss Sophia.. Haldane, Mr. Hall, Rev. Robert . . PAOK [ 86 : 29 : 70 ; 118 15 I 154 88 43 I 149 135 I 74 , 227 I 62 I 106 ' 220 1 21 49 ' 32, 243 i 83 I 92 I 109 ' 228 i 110 I 36 96 171 206 213 163 150 Ives, Johnny Jack, Poor . . . . Janeway, Rev. John Jeffries, James, G. . . Judson, Rev. Dr. A. Kilpin, Samuel, W. . . Laing, James Madam Feller Marsden, Miss Anne Mary , Miss Napoleon I. . . McCheyne, Rev. Robert Ouseley, Rev. Gideon Pal Krishna . . Palmer, Mrs. Dr. Payson, Rev. Edward Pearce, Rev. Samuel Penney, Mrs. President Lincoln . . R , Mrs. L. B. . . Rhodes, Rev. William Rhodes, Mrs. Rev. Wm. Richmond, Wilberforce Simeon, Rev. C Smith, Mrs. Sarah, L. Vicars, Capt. Hedley Wayland, Rev. Francis Wesley, Rev. John . . W , Mrs Wilson, Mrs. PAGE- .. 53 .. 4a .. 129- .. 232 34, 233 .. 139' .. 122- 31, 243 .. 73 .. 160" .. 7 .. 173 9,229- .. 80 .. 177 .. 66- .. 3 .. 194 .. 181 .. 131 .. 58 .. 138 .. 99 .. 23* .. 167 .. 202 19,34 .. 88 .. 25 .. 32 (Tbe 5^inncr antr bis ^abiour. CriAPTEIl I. " But now I have one thing more to do. And it is awful work ; for I havo, as it were, to put on the hhtck cap and pronounce the sentence of condcnination. For those who live and die rejecting Christ there is a most fearful doom. They shall perish with an utter destruction. There are degrees of punishment ; hut the highest degree is given to the man who rejects Christ, hecauoc that is the A 1 sin, the cardinal vice, and men are condemned for that Other iniquities come following after them, hut this one goes before them to judgment. Imagine for a moment that time has passed, and that the day of judgment is come. " A solemn stillness fills the air: no sound is heard. All, all is noiseless. Presently a great white cloud with solemn state sails through the skv, and then — hark ! the twofold clamour of the startled earth. On that cloud there sits one like unto the Son of man. Every eye looks, and at last there is heard a unanimous shout. The flame comes out of his mouth, and it is composed of words like these — ' Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, in hell, prepared for the devil and his angels.' Do you linger ? ' Depart ! ' Do you seek a hlessing ? ' Ye are cursed/ I curse you with a curse. Do ye seek to escape ? It is cverlastimj Jire, Do ye stop and plead ? No, ' I called, and ye refused ; I stretched out niy hands, and ye regarded me not ; therefore I will mock at your calamity, I will laufjh when your sw THE SL\xi:n AM) ins sAVwrn. fear coiudhj' * iJcjiurt, nf,Min, I say ; depart for ever ! ' And you are gone. And what is your reflection ? ^Vlly, it is tins: 'Oh! would to God that I never had been Lorn! Oh ! that I had never heard the gosi)el preached, that I might never have had the sin of rejecting it ! * This will be the gnawing of the worm in your conscience — ' I knew better, but I did not do better. As I sowed the wind, it is right I should reap the whirlwind. I was checked, but I would not be stopped ; I was wooed, but I would not be invited. Now I see that I have murdered myself. Oh ! thought above all thoughts most deadly ! I am lost, lost, lost! And this is the horror of horrors: I have caused myself to be lost; I have put from me the gospel of Christ; I have destroyed myself.' " Methinks I hear thee say, 'What must I do to be saved ?' Let me tell you the way of salvation, and then farewell. If thou wouWest be saved, ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ; ' for the Scripture says, ' He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; he that believeth not shall be damned.' There He hangs, dying on His cross ! look to Him and live." — lliT. C. H. Spurjeuns Sermons. Delay not, delay not ; O piuncr, draw near, The waters of life are now flowing for thee ; No price is demanded ; the Saviour is here : Uedeniption is purchased, salvation is free. Delay not, delay m)t ; why longer abuse The love and compassion of Jesus, thy God ? A fountain is opened ; bow canst thou refuse To wash and be cleansed in His pardoning blood ? Delay not, delay not, O sinner, to come, For Mercy still lingers, and calls thee to-day ; Her voice is not heard in the shades of the tomb ; Her message, unLcedLd, wUl soon pass away. 'I THE SINKER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Delay not, ileliiy not ; the Spirit of grace, Long gnevod and re>ist('(l, may talio LiK sad fliglit, And leave tlicc in darkness to finish thy race, To yink in the gloom of eternity's night. Delay not, delay not; the Lour is at hand ; The earth shall dissolve, and the heavens shall fade ; The dead, small and great, in th;> judgment shall stand ; "What heliier, then, sinner, shall lend thee his aid? " When scorching with burning fever, he said that lie WHS ' hot and happy.' One morning Mrs. Pearce asked liim how he felt ? ' Very ill, but unspeakably happy in the Lord and my dear Lord Jesus. Oh how thankful should I be for all my pains 1 I want for nothing: all my wishes are anticipated.' " Once beholding her grieving, he said, * my dear Sarah, do not be so anxious, but leave me entirely in the hands of Jesus, and think, if you were as wise as He, you would do the same by me. If He takes me, I shall not bo lost, I shall only go a little before ; we shall meet again, never to part.' " When after a restless night, Mrs. Pearce asked him, what she should do for him ? ' You can do nothing but pray for me, that I may have patience to bear all my Lord's will.' After taking some medicine he said, * If it be the Lord's will to bless it, for your sake, and for the sake of the dear children — but the Lord's will be done. Oh I fear I sin, I dishonour God by impatience ; but I would not for a thousand worlds sin in a thought if I could avoid it.' Mrs. Pearce replied, she trusted the Lord would still keep him ; seeing He had brought him thus far. He would not desert him at last. ' No, no,' he said, * I hope Ilo will not. As a father pitieth his children, so the L)rd pitieth them that fear Him. Why do I complain ? My THE SINXER AND HIS SAVIOUR. dear Jesus' sufferings were much sorer and more bitter than mine : And did He thus snfer, and shcdl I repine .^ No, I will cheerfully suffer my Father's will.' "One morning after being asked how he felt, he replied, ' I have but one severe pain about me ! What a mercy ! Oh how good a God to afford some intervals amidst so much pain ! He is altogether good. Jesus lives, my dear, and that must be our consolation.' " Being asked how he felt after a restless night, he re- plied, 'I have so much weakness and pain, I have not had much enjoyment ; but I have r. full persuasion that the Lord is doing all these well. If it were not for strong confidence in a lovely God, I must sink ; but all is well. blessed God, I would not love thee less ; oh support a sinking worm ! Oh what a mercy to be assured that all things are working together for good.' *' His last day, Oct. ICth, was very happy ; INTrs. Pearce repeated this verse, • Siucc all tli.ii I meet shall work for my gootl, The bitter is sweet, the medicine is food, Though iiaiuful at present, 'twill cease before long, And then, oh how pleasant the conqueror's song.' " He repeated w^th an inexpressible smile, the last line ' 2'he conqncrur's sonyj " He said once, ' my dear ! what shall I do ? But why do I complain ? He makes all my bed in my sickness.' She then repeated those lines, ■ ' JosiTS can make a dying bod Feel soft as downy pillows are.' ** ' Yes,' he replied, ' He can ; He does ; I feel it ; ' and thus passed away." The following is a portion of a hymn composed by Mr. Pearce a short time before his death : THE SIXXER A XI) HIS SAVIOUR. S In tlic floods of tribulation, ■NVliilc tlie billows o'er mo roll, Jesus whispers consolation, And supports my fainting soul : Thus the lion yields mo honey. From the oater food is given ; Strcngthen'd thus, I still prose forward, Singing as I wade to heaven, — Sweet alliictiou ! sweet ailliction. That brings Jesus to my soul ! Floods of tribulation heighten, liillows still arovxnd me roar ; Those that know not Christ ye frighten, liut my fioul defies your pow'r. In the sacre.l page recorded, Thus His word securely stands, — *' Fear not, I'm in trouble near thcc, Nought shall pluck thee fi-oiu my hands." Sweet aftliction ! sweet ailliction, That to such sw(?et words lays claim I All I meet I find assists me In my path to heavenly joy. Where, though trials now attend me, 'J'rials never more imnoy : Wearing there a weight of glory Still the path I'll ne'er forget ; But, reflecting how it led me To my blessed Saviour's seat, Cry, " Alfliction ! sweet ailliction ! Haste ! bring more to Jesus' "^eet ! " Extracts /roin the Memoir of the Lev. Samuel Pearce, Published Inj the Ant. Bap. Pub. Society. .i.M. Begone, unbelief ; my Saviour is near, And for my relief will surely appear. By faitli let me wrestle, aud He wiJl perform ; With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm. If dark be my way, since He is my guide, 'Tis mine to obey ; 'tis His to provide : Though cisterns be broken, and creatures all fail, The word He hath spoken shall surely provaiL i THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUn. !• His love in tinicH past forbids me to tliiuk, He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink : Each sweet Ebonezer I have in review Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through. Since all that I meet shall work for my good, The hitter is sweet, the medicine is food ; Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long ; And then, oh how pleasant the conqueror's song ! " Stop this tr)/iiit/ to believe, bnt jnst simply hcUerc. "It is not, lie that is chctcd shall be saved, but he that * IIELIKVETH.' lie that ' IIELIEVETH.' He that ' BELIEVETH.* " Lord ! tah-e my heart, for I cannot (jire it ; and ■when Thou hast it, oh keep it, for I cannot keep it for Thee ; and save mc in xpite of myself, for Jesus Christ's sake." — Feneloii. " Whosoever hath Christ cannot be poor ; whosoever v^ants Him cannot be rich." — Butherford. Nearer, my God, to Thee ! nearer to Thee ; E'en though it bo a cross that raisoth me. Still all my song shall be — Nearer, my God, to Thee ! Nearer to Thee ! Though, like a wanderer, the sun gone down. Darkness be over me, my rest a stone ; Yet in my dreams I'd bo — Nearer, my God, to Thee ! Nearer to Thee ! Tliere let the way appear, steps unto heaven ; All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given ; Angels to beckon me — Nearer, my God, to Thee ! Nearer to Thee I riTK SIXXEn AXD TTI^ S.lVloi'n. CHAPTER II. "Napolkon is reported to have onco Hiiiil, in conversation wit): onft of his friends. * I know men, and I tell von that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemhlancc between Christ and the founders of em[.iros and the gods of other religions. Tliat resemblance dies not exist. There is between Christianity and all other religions whatsoever the distance of infinity. " ' It is not so with Christ. Everything in Ilim astonishes me, His spirit overawes mo, and His will con- founds me. Between Him and whoever else in the world there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by Himself; His ideas and His sentiments, the truths which He announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organisation or by the nature of things, ... In every other existence but that of Christ, how many imperfections ! Where is the character that has not yielded, vanquished by obstacles '? Where is the individual who has never been governed by circum- stances or places ; who has never succuml)od to the influ- ence of the times ; who has never compounded -with any customs or passions ? From the first day to the last He is the same, always the same, infinitely firm and infinitely gentle. Truth should embrace the universe. Such is Christianity, the only religion that destroys sectional pre- judice, the only one -whicli proclaims the unity and abso- lute brotherhocd of the whole human family, the only one which is purely spiritual — in fine, the only one whicli assigns to all, without distinction, for a true country, the 8 THE SINN Ell AND JUS SAVloVR. H I ! bosom of the Creator, God. Christ proved tliat He -vvas the Son of the Eteruiil by His disregiird of timk. All His doctrines 8i<,'nify one and the siinic tiling — Ethknity. . . . The soul is sullleient for Hhn, as He is for the soul. The soul has reconquered its sovereignty. All the i^eholastic pliilosophy falls as a ruined edilice before one single word — Faith. What a master and what a word which can ell'oct such a revolution! . . . The gospel possesses a secret virtue, a mysterious efficacy, a warmth which pene- trates and soothes the heart. One finds on meditating upon it, that which one experiences in contemplating the heavens. TIic gospel is not a book, it is a living being, with an action, a power which invades everything which opposes its extension. . . . What a proof of the divinity of Christ ! AVith an empire so absolute, He has but one single end — the spiritual amelioration of individuals, the pur.ty of conscience, the uilion to that which is true, the holiness of the soul. . . . " • Christ speaks, and at once generations become His, by stricter, closer ties than those of blood — by the most sacred, the most indissoluble of all ties. He lights up the liame of love, which consumes self-love, and which pre- vails over every other love. The founders of other religions never conceived of this mystical love, which is the essence of Christianity, and is beautifully called charitj'. In every attempt to effect this thing, namely, io make Idmaelj behn-ed, man deeply feels his own impotence. So that Christ's greatest miracle undoubtedly is the reign of charity.' " — Table Talk and Opinions of Napoleon the First. H ' till l\ i ■!■., H In the Cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime. THE SIXSEl: AM> HIS SAVIOUR. When the woes of life o'ortako uie, Hopes deceivi! iind fears aunoy, Nflvor sUiill tlie Cross for.-uke lue ; . liO I it glows witli pi'iuc iiud joy. ^Vhen the sxiu of Miss is bojuaiiig Light and h)Vi' upon my way, From the Cross the nuliance streamiug Adds more hi.-tre to the day. Baue and blessiug, i)ain and pleasure, By the Cro.-s are sanclitied ; I'eaee is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide. "lie closed his prayer, {lud begiin to preucli ; but cvi- deutly liis audieuce were not disposed to hear him. Before mauy sentences had been uttered, missiles began to lly ; at first, not of a very destructive character, being refuse vegetables, potatoes, turnips, &c., but before long, brick- bats and stones, some of which intlicted slight wounds. He stopped, and after a pause, cried out, ' 13oys dear, what's the matter with you to-day ? Won't you let an old man talk to you a little '? ' ' We don't want to hear a word out of your old head,' was the reply. ' But I want to tell you what I think you would like to hear.' ' No, we 11 like nothing you can tell us.' ' How do you know ? I want to tell you a story about one you all say you respect and love.' ' Who's that ? ' ' The blessed Virgin.' ' Och, and what do you know about the bles«ed Virgin ? ' ' More than you think ; and I am sure you'll be pleased with what I have to tell you, if you'll only listen to me.' ' Come, then,' said another voice, ' let us hear what he has to say about the Holy Mother.' And there was a lull, and the missionary began •.. ' There was once a young couijle to be married, belonging to the little town of Cana ... so she 10 THE SINNER AND II IS SAVlo:!!. just -wluKpcrcd to licr blessed son, ' Tlioy liiivo no wine' 'Don't lot that trouble yon, uia'ain,' said lie. And in a niinuto or two after, she, knowing' well what was in His good heart, said to one of the sei'vants that was passing, * WhatHoeiu )' lie saith unto i/oii, do it.' . . . And all that, you see, came of the servants takinj^ the advieo of the blessed Virf,'in, and doing just \ hat sJie bid them. Now, if she was hero among us this day, she would give just tho Bamc advieo to every one of us, ' Wluitsoircr lie mitJi unto yon, do It ;' and with good reascm too, for Avell she ki ws there is nothing but love in His heart to us, and nothing but wisdoni eomes from His lips. And now I will tell you some of the things He says to us. He says, ' .SYr/z-c to cnti )• i)i at the nirait ijate.' He says, ' E.irrpt a man he horn of iratiT and of the spirit, he cannot oitcr tlw kin;ido)n of heaven.' Ho says, ' //' anij mail uill come after Me, let him deni/ himself, and tdhe np hi.'i enjss ilaili/, and follow Me.' . . . But no ; with all your love and reverence for tho blessed Virgin, you won't take her t\.i[\icc."'—E.vtrtn'ts fro)n the Life of the Her. (iideon Onselej/, who died triumphantly at Dublin, .May 11, 18B0, aged 78. "Ho bemg dead yet spcaketh" (Ileb. xi. -J). If YOU cannot on the ocean Si'.il among the swiftest lloct, llockiuj^' on tlie liigliost billow, Laughing at the storms you tiiet.-t. You can Mtam'T among the sailors, Anchored yet within tho bay. You can lend a hand to help them, As they launch their boats away. If you are too ^eak to journey Up the mountain steep and high, You can stand within the valley, >Vhile the multitudes go hy ; THE SISSlUi ASD HIS SAVIOUR. n Yiiii can chant in liappy mcfisuro As they slowly piiHS t\\ox\^ ; TlioMKh tlicy niiiy foi^'ct the siiigor Tlu'V will noi forget the song. If you hiivo not polil nnil silver ICvcr ready to conunaiul, If you cannot fwards tlur needy J teach an over open hand, You can visit the alllicted, O'er the errinj.; 301; ean weep, You can be a true diseipie Sitting at tho Saviour's feet. If you cannot in tho Imrvcst Garner up tho richest sheaves, M;iny a grain both ripe and golden Will the careless reaper;! leave ; Go ard glean among tho briers Growing rank against the wall. For it may be that their shadow Hides the heaviest wheat of all. If you cannot v.\ the contliet Prove yourself a soldier true, If where tiro and smoke an; thickest There's no work for you to do ; "U'hen the battlefield is silent, You can go with careful tr(\'id, Y''ou can bear away tho wouud( d, You can cover up the dead. Do not, then, stand idly waiting For Konic greater work to do; Fortune is a lazy goddess. She will never come to you. G<i and toil in any vineyard, Do not fear to do or dare ; If you want a field of labour, Y'^ou can find it anvwhere. (( On entering the water Christian began to sink, and, crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, ' I sink in r f. ■ h i 12 THE SlXNEIl AXD HIS SAVIOVB. deep waters ' . . . Chiistiau therefore presently fouucl f,'rouud to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow: thus they got over where two shining ones awaited them.'' — IJnni/an'.s Pihjriiii^s Pro'jrcss. " The teaching which aims to reveal and exalt ' the nur^'^, that is above every name,' which ter;tifies to the fulness of God's love to man, which proclaims the reality of the great sacrifice and propitiation for the sins of the whole world, which proves the act of faith in Christ to be the condition and the germ of a complete salvation, and which identifies such a faith Avitli the dying and rising again of our spirits with Christ, is * evangelical.' " — Chri.s- fiaii Secretary. h' 1 How can I sink with such a prop As my eternal God, Who bears the earth'.s huge pillars nii, Auil sprciuls the heavens abroad I How can I die while Jesus lives, Who rose and left the dead ? I'ardon and grace my soul receives From my exalted Mead. All that I am, and all I have, Shall be for ever thine ; "Whate'er my duty bids me give, My cheerful hands resign. Yet if I might make some reserve. And duty did not call, I love my God with zeal so groat. That I should give him all. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOVn. 13 CHAPTER III. " You wish to understand more about Christ's death heinj:^ an atonement. I shall try and explain. The curse "which Adam by his sins broug-ht upon us all was this, ' Thou slialt surely die ' (Gen. ii. 17). This included the detith of the body, the death of the soul, and the eternal destruc- tion of both in hell. This is the curse that hangs over every unpardoned sinner. And our sins have only added certainty and weight to the awful curse, for the ' wages of sin is death.' Now, when the Son of God said Ho would become our Surety and Saviour, the Father said, ' Thou must die for them.' ' I lay down my life ; ' * This com- mandment have I received from my Father.' It is true, Christ dill not suffer eternal dest ruction in hell ; Init Tie iras a jterson so f/lorious a)ul excellent — God^s oicn Son — that Jli^ short sufferings were equal in value to our eternal atfonies. So that, in the eye of law, and in God's account, Jesus has suffered all that you and I were condemned to sutler. Hence that sweet, sweet passage, • Comfort ye, comfort ye . . . for she hath received (in Christ) of the Lord's hand double for all her sins ' (Isa. xl. 1, 2). Christ's dying for as is a;? much in God's account as if wo had twice overborne the eternal agonies of hell. Hence that Bweet song which God enabled you and G. to sing : ' I will praise thee ; though thou wast angry with mo, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me' (Isa. xii. 1). Hence also that triumphant question, * Who is he that condemn etb .^ It is Christ that died ' (Rom. viii. 31). '* Keep '.ocldng then to Jesus, dear soul, and you will !;'l :i r I 1 V- 111 I; :|i u THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUH. have the peace that passcth all imdcrstaDdmg. "Wlieu- ever Siitan accuses you, send him to the stripes of the Lord Jesus. *' Look at Rom. v. 19. V>y the sin of Adam many were made siuuers. ^Ve had no hand in Adam's siu, and yet the guilt of it comes upon us. "We did not init out our hfiud to the apple, and yet the sin and misery have been laid at our door. In the same way, ' by the obedience of Christ, many are made righteous.' Christ is the glorious One who stood for many. His perfect garment is sufficient to cover you. You had no hand in His obedience. You were not alive when He came into the world and lived and died ; and yet, in the perfect obedience, j'ou may stand before God righteous. This is all my covering iu the sight of a holy God. I feel infinitely ungodly in myself: in God's eye, like a serpent or a toad ; and yet, when I stand in Christ alone, I feel" that God sees no siu in me, and loves me freely. The same righteousness is free to you. It will be as white and clean on your soul as on mine. Oh, do not sleep another night without it ! only consent to stand in Christ, not in your poor self." — llir. J I. M. 2[cClui/ne. Free from tlio law, oh, liappy condition ! Jesus Lath bled, and llii-re is remit^sion ! Cursed by the law, and bruised by the fall, Grace liath ^ deemed us once for all. Once for all, O sinner, receive it, Once for all, brother, believe it ; Cling to the cross, the burden will f.ill, Christ hath redeemed us once for all. Now are we free — there's no condemnation ; Jesns provides a perfect salvation : " Come auto J7t'," — oh, hear His sweet call ; Come, and He saves us ouce for all. " I THE SINNER ASn HIS SAVIOUR. '• One Tlmrscliiy night iu the beginning of March 18 — , she wished to try and lie down, but the exertion of getting her on the bed produced such dreadful sufferings we thought she could not survive through the night; but in the midst of her pain she repeated that sweet hymn, ' Jesus, lover of my soul, Let mo to Thy bosom lly,' &c. Also, ' God moves iu a mysterious way.' And then, taking me by the hand, she smiled and said, ' Mother, Goil is His own interpreter, and He will make it all plain.' . . . She then repeated a verse or two of the hymn com- mencing, ' God moves iu a mysterious way his wonders to perform ; ' laying great stress on the lines, ' Th.<' bad null/ have a hitter taste, bat sa'cet ii-ill be the jlouer.' She was thou carried upstairs, and during the week her sufferings were very great. . . . One evening, when suffering ex- treme pain, which brought on a fainting fit, I gave her a restorative, when she said, * my dear mother, do not give mj anything to keep me here ; do let me go ; I long to go home, where sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more.' " Tuesday, the 20th, was an evening never to be for- gotten. She was highly gratified to have Mrs. so long with her, and so was her sister Fanny, who was in the same room. Our beloved Fanny arose early the next morning and accompanied her brother to St. Thomas's Hospital, where we wisUed to get him in, he having been bad now for five years, but at noon they botli returned home disappointed. "When I opened the door, dear Fanny gave me a kiss, smiled, and said she felt very tired. After resting herself and taking tea, she seemed better, and at six o'clock went out for some acidulated drops for her sister Ellen, but while gone she was seized with excruciating ill I ■ I ■ i : II h — . 10 THE SINNER AND ITIS SAVIOUR. pains, and fell clown in the street. She was brought home by some kind female, and wlicn we opened the door she was prostrate on the step ; we immediately sent for medi- cal aid, but all of no avail. She lingered in tlie greatest agony till six o'clock in the morning, when death termi- nated this heartrending scene of suffering. " These two beloved children were both in the greatest agony all night, and in the same room, and we much feared that this sudden and painful bereavement would have caused Ellen to be much worse, but it appeared for a few daj^s to have a contrary effect, and gave a check to the disorder. She witnessed this truly painful scene with a calm composure, stroked her beloved sister's face, and said, * my dear Fanny, I had hoped to be the first of the family to go to heaven, but am disappointed. I shall not be long after you, then we shall have a joyful meeting and never part again. I know my dear Fanny has gone safe to heaven, because she loved Jesus and used topra} lo Him ; I have heard her.' This made dear Ellen anxious for the happy time to arrive when she should also take her flight upwards. " On the following Friday she was carried down to sec her sister in her coffin. This was a most affecting scene ; we thought she would have lain down in the coffin with her. She w^ept over her and said — 'Happy soul, thy days are omlcd, All thy sufferings here below; Go, by angel guards attended ; To the arms of Jesus go.' ' There's a mortal paleness on your check, ' ^ But there's glory in your soul.' *' The following week several kind friends visited Ellen, to whom she expressed her anxious desire to go * home, THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOVR. 17 and be with Jesus, which is far better ' than stajing here, where there is nothing but trouble and sorrow, pain and affliction ; but in heaven all is joy, peace, and rest. She had great pleasure from our reading the fourteenth chapter of John, and also the twentieth chapter of Revelation, which gives a very beautiful description of the heavenly world. Once she said to me that it would have been most gratifying to her own feelings if she could have been baptized. ... I said to her, * Have you any fear of not reaching heaven because you have not been baptized •? ' She said, * Oh no ; that will not save me ; nothimj but the blood of Christ ii'ill do that. . . .' " April 15th, at night, Ellen wished to lie upon the bed for a short time, but respiration was very difficult. After recovering from this fatigue, she said — * Dear refuge of my weaiy soul, On Thee wlien sorrows rise, On Theo when waves of trouhlo roll, My fainting hope relies.' • ** Then, taking me by the hand, she said, 'Oh! what should I now do without that refuge ? ' Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on thee.' " Friday 20th, her poor legs were mortified, and large pieces of flesh dropped off from them, still there was no murmur ; her soul seemed lifted above her pains. In the afternoon she expressed a wish to see Mr. , and sent a message as a dying request to him, which request was promptly attended to, and Mr. B was soon at her bedside. ... ' ' " Shortly after Mr. B came, he aslced her a groat many questions ; among others he said, ' You say, Ellen, that you long to go home, what is the foundation of your 8 Hi 11 i I V • V II Vi-, 18 THE SISXER AM) HIS SAVIOm. liopc' Slio said, ' Because I believe that Jesus died for me ; I have no other hope.' . . . Slio said to her sister, ' Defore you retire will you kindly assist in laying me on the Led.' Tills v/as done, and at twelve o'clock her sister left the room. After this she hocamc very restless, and every two or three minutes required moving. At a quarter to three she wished us to raise her higher in bed ; she gave a sweet smile, and said, ' That will do nicely.' Slie then placed both her hands in mine, and shook them violently. I tried to keep them still, but she immediately drew one hand away to unfasten the wristband of her night-dress. Ilor aunt, wondering what she wanted, brought the candle. Slie drew the sleeve off, and putting her bare arm through the opening of her dress, waved her hand three times over her head, and said, ' Victory ! Victory ! Victory ! through THE BLOOD of THE Lamr ! ' Slic tliCH Idsscd mc most aOcctionately, asked me to turn her over on her right side, and without a struggle or a sigh, sweetly fell * asleep in Jesus.' Oh ! what a glorious translation from a scene of suffering to a state of perfect happiness." — Verbatim Ex- tracts from a Private Letter to the Author, informing him of the death of a cousin, ]\Iiss Ellen B . Jesus I lovor of my soul, Lot me to Thy bobom fly, While the raKin<; billov,-.s roll, While tlie tt'mi)ost still is high. Hide me, my Savioui- ! hide, Till the storm of life is past ; Safe into tlie Imveu guide ; Uh, receive my soul at last 1 Other refuge have I none ; Hangs my hel]ilc.>-s soul on Thee; Leave, ah ! leave me not alouC; S.iii support and comfort me. THE SIXXKR AND HIS SAVIOUR. I'J All my trust ou Thoo is stayed ; All my liolp from Thee I bring ; Cover my defenceless head AVith the shadow of Thy wiug. Thou, Christ, art all I want ; All in all in Thee I tind ; raiiso the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind. Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness ; Yile and full of ^iu I am, Thou art full of truth and grace. " I foci that my race is nearly run. I have, inclood, tried to do my duty. Yet all this avails nothing. I place no dependence on anything but the righteousness and death of Jesus Christ. I have never enjoyed the raptures of faith vouchsafed to many Christians. I do not under- value these feelings, but it has not pleased God to bestow them upon me. I have, however, a confident hope that I am accepted in the Eeloved." — Thus wrote the LVr. FrancU Waijlaiid, DJJ., LL.D., shortly hcforc his death. Give me the wings of faith to rise "Within the vail, and sec The saints above how great their joys, How bright their glories be. Many arc the friends who arc waiting to-day, Hapi)y on the golden strand ; Many arc the voices calling us away, To join their glorious band — Calling us awa}', calling us away, Calling to the butter land. Ouce they were mourners here below, And poured out cries and tears ; They fought the light as we do now, But faith o'ercamo their fears. f n I M - 1 1 I ! SO THE SIXNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER IV. " I EEMEMRER I concluclcd prcacliing at Exeter Hall with these three words, ' Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ! ' and I tliiuk I will conclude my sermon of this morning with the same words, but not till I have spoken to one poor, forlorn soul who is standing over there, wondering whether there is mercy for him. He says, * It is well enough, sir, to say, "Look to Jesus;" but suppose you cannot look? If your eye is blind — wdiat then ? ' my poor brother, turn your restless eyeballs to the cross, and that light which gives light to them that see, shall give eyesight to them that are blind. Oh ! if thou canst not believe this morning, look and consider, and weigh the matter, and in weighing and reflecting thou shalt be helped to behove. He asks nothing of thee ; He bids thee now believe that He died for thee. If to-day thou feelest thyself a lost, guilty sinner, all He asks is that thou wouldst believe on Him ; that is to say, trust Him, confide in Him. Is it not little He asks ? And yet it is more than any of us are pre^-cvred to give, except the Spirit hath made us walling. Come, cast yourselves upon Him ; fall flat on His promise ; sink or swim, confide in Him, and you cannot guess the joy that you shall feel in that one instant that you believe on Him. Were there not some of you impressed last Sabbath day, and you have been anxious all the week ? Oh ! I hope I have brought a good message to you this morning for your comfort. ' Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth,' saith Christ, 'for I am God, and beside me there is none else.' Look ye now, and 1? THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOVR. 21 c looking ye shall live. May every blessing rest upon yon, and may each go away to think of that one person whom we love, even Jesns — Jnsns — Jesus!" — Uev. C. H. (jcoii's Serinuns. Oh to be nothing, nothing ! Only to lie at His feet, A broken and emptied vessel, For the Master's use made meet. Emptied — that He might till me, As forth to llis service; I go ; Lroken — that so unhindered His life through mo might How. Oh to be nothing, nothing ! Only as led by His hand ; A messenger at His gateway. Only waiting for Hi < command : Only an instrumeut rL-.>,dy His jiraises to sound at His will ; Wdling, should He not require me, In silence to wait on Him still. Oh to be nothing, nothing ! Painful the humbling may be, Yet low in the dust I'd lay me That the world might my Saviour see. Rivther be nothing, nothing ! To Him let their voices be raised ; He is the Fountain of blessing, He only is meet to be praised. " Once while sitting in his easy-chair he exclaimed, ' Such transporting views of the heavenly world is my Father now indulging me with as no words can express ! ' His comfort abounded all through his sickness. As his bodily strength decayed, his spiritual joy increased. Tims he spoke on one occasion, as he gave utterance to his experience — " ' My soul is vigorous and healthy, notwithstanding the 22 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. luiHtcning decay of this frail antl tottering body. It is a blessed thing to live above the fear of death, and I praise God I fear it not. God liath, as it Averc, let liraven down upon mo iu those nights of ^vcakncss and waiving. I am not suffered once to lose my hope. ]\ry confidence is, uot that I lived such or such a life, or served God in this or that manner. I laiow of no prayer I ever oflered, no service I ever performed, but there has been such a mix- ture of what is wrong in it, that instead of recommending me to the favour of God, I needed His pardon through Christ for the same. I have no hope in what I havo done or been. Yet I am full of confidence, and this is mv confi- dcncc, there is a hope set before me; I have fled, and still flee, for refuge to that hope. In Him I trust ; iu Him I have strong consolation, and shall assuredly be accepted in this Beloved of my scul. The siiirit of adoption is given me, enabling me to cry, ' "Abba, Father," '" Thus died Dr. Doddridge at the early ago of forty-nine years. — ■Extracted f ram Jiis McDiuir, jnihli'^hcd Jnj Am. Tract Sucictij. Whoii Lmgnor jukI iliscase iuvtulo This troinbling liouse of clay, 'Tis swoct to look beyond my pain, And long to fly away ; Sweet to look inward and attend The wliispirs ot His love; Sweet to look upward to the place Where Jesus pleads above ; Sweet on His fuitlifnlness to rest, ^YIlose love can never end ; Sweet on the promise of His grace For all things to (lejiend ; Sweet, in the eonfidence of faith. To trust His hrm decrees ; Sweet to lie passive in His hands, And know no will but His. THE SINNER ASD HIS SAVIOVn. 2:j If such tho swootnpss of tlie stroaiu, Wliiit must tlio foimtiiiu he, Where siiiiit-s and angels draw their bhsa Directly, Lord, from Theo ! " It is not ho that KKi;r,s fiiul boliovcs, but he that r.ELiEVKTii in the Son of God hiith cverhistinf,' life.' Act on tho presumption that Cln-isfn words are true. Nouli's carpenters knew as much al)outtho ark as lie did, but they did not £,'et into it, and Avcre consequently not saved." — Kxtract I'nnii a Seniiun bif Mr. Moodij. " By constant s/V/Zii tho eficct of objects seen grows JesH ; by constant faUh tho effect of objects believed in grows (jredttr. Tlie more frequently we see, the less wo J'lrl, tlie power of an object ; wliilo tho more frequently we dwell u])on an object by faith, the more wo feel its power. ' Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evi- dence of things not seen'(lleb. ii. 1)." — The ii:riUr un- JiUnivii. i Faith adds now charms to earthly hlis.«, And saves us from its snares ; It yields support in all our toils, And softens all our cares. Faith shows tho promise fully scaled With our lledoemor's hlood ; It helps our feeble hope to rest Upon a faithful God. ni u THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER V. " Now you may not feel so ; but if you arc convinced that you arc ill, you have made one step towards that great cure by which, and through which, you will be made entirely whole. Thus awakened and convinced tliat you are ill, at least, satisfied that you need a cure, even if you do not feel it. , . . your first question, asked with the utmost anxiety, will be, ' What must I do to be saved ? ' or, translated into the figure under which I am speaking, ' What must I do to be cured ?' *' Salvation is not a church thing, nor a corporate thing, nor a sacramental thing, nor an accidental thing that may overtake you any day before you are aware. Salvation is the result of personal application to the Saviour. The question is, 'Wilt thuu be made whole ?' The answer must be, ' Lord, I believe ; heal Thou mcy and make me one of thine own.' And if wo have thus applied personally to Him who asks the question. ' Wilt thou be made whole ? ' Wv; shall most thankfully submit to every prescription that He gives us. ' ' There is but one Physician that can cure ; there is but one prescription that has efficacy. To go to a wrong source is not merely to miss the cure, but to aggravate a thousand-fold the moral and spiritual disease under which humanity groans and labours. You cannot recollect too clearly, ' There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved,' — that is, cured. ' He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give ' — ^just what makes you whole — 'repentance and remission of sins.' HIE SISNER AXD HIS SAlKtin. Ho liiiiiKL'lf Hayti, 'Look unto mc, all yc oncls of tlio earth ' — sic-k, sulVcriiiLj hunianity — ' for bcsitlo inc tliore is no Saviour;' or, translated into the imagery of my text, ' Ijeside me there is no physician. I, even I only, am he tliat blotteth out all thy transgressions.' " — JUi'. John Cumin im/s Sennons. Tho groat rhvsu'ian now is near, Tilt' symiiathi/.iug Jesus ; He speaks tlu; druopiiig heart to cheer ; Oh, hear the voice of Jesus. Sweetest note in Kcrapli pong, Sweetest name on mortal tongue, Sweetest carol ever sung, Jesus, blessed Jesus. Your many sins are all forgiven ; Oh, hear the voice of Jesus ; Go on your way in peace to heaven, And wear a crown with Jesus. All glory to the risen Lamb ! I now believe iu Jesus ; I love the blessed Saviuur's name, I love the name of Jesus. His name dispels my guilt and fear, No other name but Jesus ; Oh, how my soul deliglits to hear The precious name of Jesus. And when to that bright world above Wo rise to see our Jesus, We il Ping ai'ound the throne of love His name, the lUiUio of Jesus. - ' i. I " In the year 18 — , I \vas conducting a protracted meeting in Toronto (Ontario), at which a goodly number of persons professed to have obtainc 1 the witness of the spirit that they were born of God. Amongst those who 20 TIIK SIXXF.n AXD 777.S' SAVIOUIl. came fiGokiiig this blessing was a Mrs. W , an intelli- gent lady, who had been for twelve years a member of onr (]\rothodist) church. During all those years she had been an exemplary member of onr church. She had habitually prayed at least three times a day in secret, read the Bible on lier k loes ; she was regular at all the public and social means of grace, Sec. Yet, when she hoard or read of the experiences of those wlio could confidently nay, 'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we fire the children of God' (Eom. viii. 10), she mourned dccjily that she was destitute of tliis assurance. . . . She imme- diately formed in her heart this resolution, * Now I will give myself nholhj unto the Lord ; and I will look to Him aJonc for that grace which I know lie will not withhold from me, which v>'ill enable me to serve and please Ilim while I live. And if I earnestly seek to. do this, I know that that Saviour Avho bought me with His blood will save mo at last.' What a beautiful illustration of Isa. Ix. 7: 'Let the wicked forsake his wav, and the unrii^diteous man his thoughts' — and yet all that he can do will not save him, he must lie saved In/ f/ract' nlonr — ' and lot him return unto the Lord, aud he will have mercy upon him ; and unto our God, and he ^\ill ahnndanthj pchrdon ! ' "Lut to return to our narrative. No sooner had she formed that purpose than she felt a degree of confidence and peace which she had not before experienced ; and on going home, instead of spending an hour or more in earnest supplication, as she had been accustomed to do, she knelt down and simply told the Lord her purpose, and asked of Him, through Christ, not for feeling or joij or emotion, Init snnidij for (jnn'c to do His will, and fueling assured that He would impart that grace, and that He would at last save her soul which she had committed to His care. And having thus upon her knees solemnly cove- THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. 27 iiantccl licuceforth to bo the Lord's, bIio lay down upon her bed, siiying, ' Now I am wholly the Lord's, and am persuaded that lie will keep that which I have thus com- mitted to Him.' And that very moment, when not looking at herself, or sceklmj, or even (h'siriiirf feiliiii/, hut xbiiphj lookimj (It (rotVs promise throiuih Jc.sks Christ, she felt such an implicit reliance upon Ilis promises to save all who sin- cerely come to Him, as she had been enabled to do, that her soul was filled nith 'jni/ iiiispcu/iahle <ni(l full oj' nhiri/.^ Thus, when -^easing to look at her own feelings, and entirely out of self and beyond herself, to God's mercy in Cliiist, and to rely upon that alone, she was 'justified by faith, and had peace with God throu,u;h our Lord Jesus Christ ' (liom. v. 1). And during my acquaintance with her for many years after, her cx})erienco was thus ; ' There is nov; no condemnation to them who arc in Clirist Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, l)ut after the Spirit.' "I u-ork, and own my lahour rain, And tlius/i*o»( workx I craxi', I strlrc, and see my fni it h.ts pain, Till God erca'o ujy pence. "Frui.^ioRs, till Thoi; Thyself impart, ]\[usi, all my ol't'ujts jirove ; They caiuiot clianj^'e a .«iufiil heart ; Tboy cannot purchase lovo. " I do the thing Thy laws enjoin, And then the strife give o'er ; To Theo /then tlie wliole resign, And trust in iin'(iii.-> no marc. " I. trust in Him who stands between T!ic Father's wrath and me; J su , thou great eternal Mean, I look for all from Thee!" Extract from n Privnte Lcttrr to tlic Autltor from Rev. J. B. 11 . \ ii! ,1! Ifl! 28 THE SIXXER AXD HIS SAVIOUR. "The very absence of doubt has caused me to doubt; for if I were a child of God, how should I be free from those doubts which trouble His children ? . . . Was again disturbed with apprehensions that I knew nothing of religion ; but thought I could not come to Christ as one of His members. . . . Oh, if God by His Spirit did not prevent me, and still in a manner force me to keep striving almost against my will, I should give up in despair. . . . My mind is like the tioabled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up niive .nid dirt; and I can no more still it than I can still the f leraents. I know liow I ouf/ht to feel, and I know how wrong it is to feel as I do ; but that does not hell) ^^^ ^^ ^^el otherwise. . . I loathe and detest myself. . . Was so distressed that I left the sermon unfinished. Went home, feeling ashamed to look anybody in the face. . Was ready to give up in despair. . . and had scarcely ^.uy hope that I should ever again behold the light of God's countenance." — Extracts from the Dianj of Jlcv. Edward Payson, D.D. PuhUshed by Am. Tract Society. Stand up ! stand up for Jesus ! The strife ■will not be long ; This day the noise of battle, The next the victor's song : To him that overcomcth A crown of life shall be ; He with the King of glory Shall reign eternally. THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 29 CHAPTER VI. " ' So JoHX, you've got fairly iuto the kingdom, you tell mc. You have been long seeking ; how did you get in at last ? ' " ' man ! it was the simplest thing in the world ; it was just by presenting the right ticket. I held it out, the door was opened, and I was in. And the strange thing is, I found that the ticket of admission had been in my possession from childhood, and I had carried it in my breast pocket for the last twelve months, and never had the sense to use it.' " 'That is strange, for you were so anxious to get in. You were always a decent fellow, and for a year back have been taken up with nothing but your soul. What kind of a ticket was it, and what was written on it ? ' " ' Why, it was as plain a ticket as you ever bought for a soirue or a public meeting in the City Hall, and it had nothing written on it but the words. ADMIT THE BEAREB,— A SINNER. Lnko xviii. l.'J, 14.' " ' Was that all ?' * Yes. And what kept me so long from getting in was, thas I always acLled something to the words on the ticket, when I presented it. Wh^'iever the Lord saw anything of my adding, it was refused. The iirst time I went, I wrote at the bottom, in small hand, * EUT NOT so GREAT A SINNER AS MANY OF MY NEIGHBOURS.' n ! , :k (:; I ^'^^ 30 THE SINNER A.\'I> HIS SAVIOVR. Lilt that would not do, so I rubbed it out and put down, 'but is doing tiik j;k.st he can to improve.' That would not do cither, so I became more anxious, and jn-ayed and "wept awhile, and then, under the Avords, ' Admit the bearer, a sinner,' I wrote, ' WHO IS PllAYING AND WEEPING FOR HIS SINS.' Even that wouldn't do. All well enough, but even prayers and tears {-.re not to be put as the warrant for going in. After that I began to despair, and wrote down, ' TOO GREAT A SINNER TO RE SAVED.' That only made matte;'s worse, and I had almost given up, when I looked at Christ and heard Him say, ' I am the door : by me if any man enter in, ho shall be saved ' (John X. 1-9) ; and * Him that cometh. unto me I will in no wise cast out ' (John vi. o7) ; * And ye will not come unto me, that ye might have- life ' (John v. 20) ; and those precious words, ' Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely ' (Rev. xxii. 17). I looked again at that parable* of the Pharisee and Publican, and saw that it was SIMPLY AS A SINNER that ho went and was justified. He did not make his sins too great to be forgiven, nor too little to need forgiveness. He did not stay away because he fVlt his sins great, nor delay until he felt them greater. He went just as he was, ' a sinner ; ' and trusting to the promised grace of God, he went down to his house 'justified.' I remembered that Jesus had said, ' I came ... to call sinners to repent- ance,' and pulled out the old ticket, and, without adding a word, presented it. It was accepted, and I entered.' " Picader, this ticket of admission into the kingdom is lying within the borders of your Bible. It is written in the blood of Christ. It costs nothing. Add nothing to it. God has put it into your hands, if you find it in your THE SINNER AND III:^ SAVIOUR. ;ji licart to use it; hold it out with the hand of laitli, antl Eternal Justice will own your ri,i,'htof entrance, and Mercy will Avelcome you to the kingdom of peace. Use no other plea for admission but that all-prevailing cry, ' a sinner.' Do not add your righteousness nor your repentance, your prayers nor your piety, your feelings nor your faith. The publican said nothing but ' God bo merciful to nio a sinner! ' and Jesus Christ certihcs, ' This vtan natt down to Ills liu}ise jnslitii'd.' " lieader ! go thou and do likewise, and, as God is true, tliou also art justified." — luv. James Johnston, Guis^ioic. Nothing,', oitlioi- groat or small, Nothing, sinner, no ; Jesus dill it, di'l it all, Long, long ago, " It /.-,■ ii)ti>ili\l ! " Yes, iudceil, Fiuislu;d evcrv jot ; Sinner, this is all you need, Tell mo, is it not? "Wlifen Jh' from His lofty tbrcno Stooped to do and die. Everything was fully done : Hearkon to /Zis cry: Weary, working, plodding one, "Why toil you iso ? Cease your doing ; all waa done Long, long ago. Till to Jesu's work von cling By a simple faith, " Doing " is a deadly thing, " Doing " ends iu death. *' ' I think, my dear husband, we must now soon part. I shall shortly leave you alone in your blessed Master's work. I love you very much, but I love -my Saviour Jesus 32 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOVR. I ' t li far better — we are only to be separated for a short time, and then our union will be consummated in glory. . . . Oh ! remember what a serious charge you have under- taken — mind that you are faithful — preach Jems, ami Him. rnicifu'd — tell the poor heathen of His love : but I need not advise you — I know you will, by the help of God.' " We were expecting her to breathe her last ; she lay in agony commending herself to God, saying, ' There is not one pain too many ! What is all this compared with what my Saviour suffered ? Oh, pray that I may not repine at my heavenly Father's will. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit ! Heaven ! heaven ! blessed rest ! Jesus is now jirecious to inc.' When she was requested to keep herself easy, she replied, * Oli no ! let me speak of the Saviour while I can. I shall soon be in eternity ! Tell all my dear friends that I die quite happy ; give my love to them, and tell them to think of eternity.' " — Extract from the Memoir of Mrs. Wilson of the Church Missionarj/ Societ}/. " I left the maid with her for a few minutes, to go and take breakfast, but was summoned upstairs almost im- mediately, as she was worse. Her mind was wandering, and she was talking much. But even in her partially un- conscious state she had such a clear view of her faith and hope in Christ that there was nothing out of order. Her great concern was for her hoi/s (Eoman Catholic boys in her school, at the Grande Ligne Mission, near the city of Montreal). Slie insisted that we should go and tell them to seek Jesus ; to trust Him ; to be sure that tliey were established in Jesus by faith. These words, ' by faith ALONE,' * in the blood of Christ alone,' * by faith in Him,' were continually repeated with most solemn emphasis. She thus spoke without any interruption, until, growing weaker, she just murmured with her lips the saving truths of the gospel. She had, I may say, no agony, only a THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 33 difficulty in breathing. At a quarter to nine she peacefully left tliis world, full of hopes of a glorious resurrection." — ■ Extract from the Memoir of Madame Feller, by the Rev. J, M, Cramp, D.D, Thou art gone to the grave ; but we will not deplore thee, Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb ; The Saviour has passed through its portals before thee, And the lamp of llis love is thy guide through the gloom. Thou art gone to the grave ; we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side ; But the wide arms of Mercy are spread to enfold thee, And sinners may hope, since the Saviour hath died. Thou art gone to the grave ; and, its mansion forsaking. Perchance thy weak spirit in doubt lingered long ; But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy waking, And the sound thou didst hear was the seraphim's song. Thou art gone to the grave ; but w will not deplore thee, Since God was thy Hansom, thy Guardian, thy Guide : He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee ; And death has no sting, wince the Saviour hath died. " Beloved friends, -when poor souls are coming to Jesus they are generally themselves their own worst enemies. They have a singular ingenuity in finding out reasons why they should not be saved. A strange infatuation seems to possess them, so that they ransack heaven, and earth, and hell, to find discouragements. They become inventive of difficulties where difficulties are not, and often and often the pastor, whose business it is to look after the little ones, finds himself, notwithstanding his former ex- perience with persons of like character, utterly bewildered. He is often put to a nonplus with the strange and novel difficulties which awakened sinners will imagine, and the reasons which they invent why they should not believe in Jesus Christ. One would hardly think that the human n 'i 1 i'' I 111 ■ k-i I i , ! I I li t ^li 84 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. mind could twist itself into sucli knots. So many sinners, so many new arguments ; for each one lias a logic of his own by which he labours to prove the imi)ossibility of his own salvation." — lU-v. C. 11. Spnrfft'on. " Dr. Judson believed that when any man becomes ft Christian, or a real disciple of Christ, a specific moral change takes place in his spiritual nature. The essential elements of this change are, a deep and universal sorrow •for the sins of his past life, an entire renunciation of all hope of salvation by any merits of his own, an unreserved -surrender of himself to Christ, relying on Him alone for pardon and acceptance with God, and an earnest desire to live henceforth in obedience to all the requirements of the Gospel, and that these spiritual exercises terminate in a radical change of moral character, leading to a pure and holy Ufa." — WaylaniPs Memoir of Jiuhon. Wlien any, tbroiigh a beam of liglit, Can see and own thoy are not right, But enter on a legal strife. Amend their former course of life, And work and toil, and sweat from day to day, Such, to their Saviour, quite mistake the way. 11 JE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER VII. I " WuAT Piust I do first? So tliorouglily is the thought engrafted in the human mind that Halvatiou is on the ground of our works, that it is not an uncommon thing to find persons suddenly aroused to the sense of the terrible mistake they have been under for years, in supposing that they would ultimately obtain salvation on the predomin- ance of their good works over the bad. Some time ago a person said to the writer, ' I thought, sir, till lately, that I had a great deal to do ; but now I see it is all done for me.' She saw that Jesus, by Ilis death upon the cross, had saved her. She, therefore, had peace with God at once — rest of conscience, because she saw that God had settled the question of sin for her in Christ God is not now improving man in the flesh, mending up what sin has done, but He publishes the fact that He has accom- plished salvation for the lost, that He gives eternal life to whosoever believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. So that if a person says, * What must I do first ? ' our answer is, You have nothing to do ; for ' Jesus did it, did it all, Long, long ago. ' " Bow, then to God's verdict, that you are guilty before Him ; that you cannot make yourself fit for His holy presence ; that you are by nature a child of wrath, and by practice a great transgressor in His sight. I say, bow to God's truth about yourself. You will then see that you are weak, sinful, lost — yes, lost ! incurably bad and lost ! and also that Jesus Christ the Son of God came into the : \\ 1 i , 41 il I t '.'i vtr li h iiii I 11 ii'i I il 86 THE SINNER AND liiS SAVIOUR. world to save the lost, and that He did accomplish eternal redemption for all those who believe on His name. The question, then, is not what you must do first ; but, have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ ? Have you ac- cepted Him as your Saviour ? Can you, do you, rest in His finished work upon the cross for your eternal salva- tion ? Have you received God's word as truth which testifies to the all-cleansing power of the blood of the cross, and which tells you that you are now — yes, now." — Ilev. C. II. Spunjeons Sennuiis, The cross ! the cross ! the blood-stained cross ! The hallowed cross I see ! Eeminding me of precious blood That once was shed for me. Ob, the blood ! the precious blood ! that Jesus shed for me, Upon the cross, in crimson flood, just now by faith I ace. That cross ! that cross ! that heavy cross My Saviour bore for me, Which bowed Him to the earth with grief, On sad Mount Calvary. How light ! how light! this precious cross, Presented to my view ; And while, witli care, I take it up, Behold the crown my due. The crown ! the crown ! the glorious crown I The crown of victory ! The crown of life ! it shall be mine. When I shall Jesus see. My tears, unbidden, seem to flow For love, unbounded love. Which guides me through this world of woe, And points to joys above. (( . I very shortly followed the woman to the place she had mentioned. It was a very small house, scarcely THE STNXER AXD HIS SAVIOUR. 37 more than a hut, ^vithout any kind of screen between the door and tlie highway. AVitliin, liowcver, there was an ah- of comfort which you would hardly expect to find in so small a place. Everything I saw and heard convinced me that the inmates had sometimes had more convenient lodgings. The daughter, taking a candle in her hand, led me to the side of one of the beds, and drew aside the curtains, when an aged woman, pale and emaciated, and having every appearance of being within one step of death, reached forth her clammy, withered hand, and began to apologise for having troubled me. She had sent for Mr. B , the Church of England minister, she said, but he was from home, and was not expected to return for so many days. She was sure she should not live so long, and as she thought it extremely important that she should see a minister before she died, she had taken the liberty to send for me. I assured her that I should be most happy to be useful to her, and proceeded to make some inquiries into the state of her soul, and the views she had in the immediate prospect of death. She assured me she was not afraid to die — it was a debt we must all pay — she had lived long enough in the world, and had found nothing but trouble and disappointment in it — she was not unwilling to leave it — her trust was in Almighty God, &c. Inquiring still further into the gi ""nd of her faith and hope in God, she appeared surprista ;^at 1 should be so exact, and dis- pleased that I could not take all for granted. But after some hesitation she proceeded to tell me what she seemed to think I ought to have known before, that she was a member of Christ's Church ; that her parents were Chris- tians, and that they had had her duly baptized ; that she had been confirmed, and attended the sacraments of the Church, and had always lived a worthy member of the same. She admitted, in further , conversation, that she !|ii i. ' ,f'; ■ tt m 1 if I ' li '3 88 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. liad clone some things wrong, but they were trifling, and God was merciful, Jind her trust was in Him. In short, the whole conversation ser'^ > convince me of her entire ignorance of Christ as a Saviour, and of herself as a lost and helpless sinner. ** I felt my own situation to be peculiarly trying ; I knew not what to do. The attempt to enlighten a mind so totally dark, to instruct one so very ignorant on these subjects (in other respects she appeared sufficiently intel- ligent and well-informed), seemed, in this last hour of life, entirely hopeless. I feared it would only be giving pain without the possibility of doing any good. And who would be willing to give pain or unavailing alarm to a fellow- creature in the awful hour o^ -loath ? Our whole nature recoils at the thought ! Bu ^n, on the other hand, it was awful to think of a soui. going into the preserce of God, making such ' a refuge of lies its trust.' Besides, thought I, this work is perfectly possible with God, though quite impossible with man. " Having thus arrived at a feeling of certainty with re- gard to my. duty, I proceeded affectionately, but firmly and freely, to point out to her what I considered to be her lost and helpless condition. I explained the nature of God's law, and the guilt of those who live in habitual vio- lation of it. I spoke of His holy nature and the utter impossibility of His being indifferent to sin, or pleased with sinful beings ; and mentioned some of those passages of Scripture which utterly exclude from heaven all beings but holy ones, and assured her from the Scriptures, that without a personal interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, she could have no part in that holy place. '* She made but little reply to these remarks, and what little she did say showed me that she was by no means pleased with them. I proposed prayer ; she gave, as I m THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 39 thought, a reluctant consent. I felt a great relief in com- ing ' boldly to the throne of grace.* I now felt myBclf atlclrcssing an unreluctant ear. After earnestly imploring for her the grace of the Holy Spirit, and commending her to His mercy in Christ Jesus, I rose from my knees, gave her my hand, and hade her good-night. I felt her hand tremble in mine, and as she feebly said * Good-night, sir,' there was an evident agitation in her voice, but I knew not whether this agitation arose from anger or from^ some other emotion. " The next evening, in my absence, Mrs. again called. She said her mother was more anxious than ever to see me and begged I would come down after I came home. Upon hearing this I turned about and walked directly down. Picking my way along, I came to the door, which was almost instantly opened, and Mrs. , in a whisper, said, ' I am so glad you are come, sir, mother is so very anxious to see you.' I was just asking, ' How is your mother ? ' when I was interrupted by a tremulous voice within — * Katherine, has Mr. L come?' 'Yes, mother,' she replied, * Mr. L is here.' ' Oh, my dear sir,' said she with agitation, pushing away the curtains, ' I am so glad to see you.' ' And liow do you find your- self, my dear madam ? ' I asked. * Oh, sir,' she replied, * with regard to my body, I do not know ; I have scarcely given it a thought to-day. But my soul ! ' And she pressed my hand almost convulsively ; her emotions for some +ime not suffering her to speak. After her feelings had a little subsided she was able to speak with consider- able calmness. " I cannot pretend, at this distance of time, to recollect her exact words, nor will I attempt to describe the scene that followed at this interview. Suffice it to say that the Holy Spirit had made her sensible of her true state. She ii 'A i i- if 1 1 [iii ilBlllI ^i 40 THE SINXER AND HIS SAVIOUR. clearly saw herself guilty, condemned, and helpless, and her distress and fear were equal to her former self-confi- dence and presumption. She told me that when she sent for me the day before she had not the least doubt but she was a very good Christian, and she had never in her life felt aiuj mistjirififj on that point. She had never supj^ used that religion consisted in anything more than being a member of the Church of Clirist, and she thought that all Pro- testants were constituted such at baptism. Having these views she thought my discourse of the last evening un- called for and cruel. She l^lt deeply oticndod with it, even to anger, which was her state of mind when I pro- posed prayer. But during the prayer she became softened, and a new feeling, which she could not describe, came over her. When I was gone, and the family had retired to bed, she was left to silence and reflection. She thought of what I had said of the holy requirements of God's law, and was enlightened to sec how short she had come of them. She thought of the holiness of His nature, and could realize how much He must be offended at sin. She seemed sometimes almost to see His all-seeing eye bent in anger upon her. In this manner she spent the night. As soon as the morning appeared she had her daughter read- ing the Scriptures to her, in hopes of being comforted by them. But in them she but saw her condemnation more clearly. They shone only upon her guilt ; and what she feared before she found confirmed by the very voice of inspiration. In 'this state of mind she had sent for me, and she had felt greatly disappohited and distressed when she heard I was not at homo. She feared I would not come till morning, and that before that time her doom might be fixed. " You may be sure that I felt great pleasure in directing her to Christ. I endeavoured to show her the perfect 1 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 41 nature of His finished work as a foundation for her hope ; and as a consequence of it, the frecness with which tlio Father receives and justifies the believer. She appeared for a while to bo mentall;; struggling to comprehend the new, the great idea, and then she said, 'Do you mean, sir, that / may belit ve in Christ and be saved ? That /, sinful and guilty as I am, would be freely accepted of Ilim ? And is this all that is necessary after a long life of sin ?' I assured her that this was what was required, namely, faith in the Son of God. That this only would produce genuine repentance and purity of heart. I read several passages of Scripture suitable to her case, showing that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, and that He is the propitiation, &c. She was filled v.ith wonder and amazement. She forgot her own situation in the con- templation of the wonders of redeeming love. And when she reverted to herself, she could not, dared not, hope on her own account ; and yet she admitted that the sub- ject itsoU, and on its own account, was worthy of the highest admiration and joy. Ii.. this situation, after once more leading her to a throne of grace, I left her. "I saw her again the next evening, and discovered at once that, being justified by faith, she had peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. She had made great ad- vances in the knowledge of the Lord. The Scriptures, with the letter of which she was before somewhat familiar, were now unsealed, and displayed to her treasures of the richest wisdom. She was now able ' to give a reason for the hope that was in her ' in the calment manner. After this, though, contrary to all expectation, she continued to live, I did not see her for several days. My own dear friend was passing into the world of angels. I watched by her bedside till her soul rested with God. Relieved from this mournful duty I again called to see dear Mrs. ji ;;!l l!:i li| 42 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. G . Her daughter met me at the door and said, * You are too late, sh-, my mother has not spoken for some hours. She is nearly gone. She spoke much of you this morning, and earnestly desired to see you ; but knowing how deeply you were afflicted in your own family, she would not ask it. She was very happy, sir, and prayed much for you, that you .glit be supported under your afflictions.' I stepped to the bedside, her eyes were par- tially closed, her breath was short and difficult, and she had every appearance of a person dying. The daughter called, * Mother ! ' but she paid no attention. She put her mouth close to her ear and said, ' Mr. L is here.' Upon hearing ni}^ name she opened her eyes and attempted to speak, which in a short time she was able to do. She expressed much joy and thankfulness at seeing me again, and said her mind had been a long time entirely absorbed in the contemplation of the subject of the wonderful love of Christ which I had taught her. She expressed the greatest astonishment at her former blindness, and deep concern for the thousands who were in the same state. She wondered that she should ever have thought herself a Christian, In this happy state of mind, a few hours after- "wards, she slept in Jesus, and, like the pardoned thief, was doubtless the same da,y with Ilini in Paradise." — liev. W. IJ. Landon, Ontario. Not all the ontwani forms on earth, Nor rites that God has f3;ivou, Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth, Can raise a soul to heaven. The sovereign will of God alone Creates us heirs of grace, Born in the imago of His Son, A new, peculiar race. yyy THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. 43 The Spirit, like some heavenly wind, Breathes on the sons of flesh, Creates anew the carnal mind, And forms the man afresh. Our quickened souls awake and rise From their long sleep of death ; On heavenly things we fix our eyes, And praise employs our breath. " ' Foote,' said Boswell, * was an infidel as a dog is an infidel ; he never once thoiujht on the subject ofrcHijion at all.' " * The wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God ' (Psa. ix. 17). Mr. E. Bruce, the morning before he died. . . " Hold daughter, hold, my Master calls me ! " "With these words his sight failed him, on which he called for the Bible, and said, *' Turn to Romans viii. and set my finger on the words, * I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,' " &c. When this was done, he said, '« Xoiv is my fimfer upon them ? " Being told it was, he added, ** Xow, God he with you, my dear children : I hav£ just breakfasted with you this morniny and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this idyht," and then expired. Asleep in Jesus ! hleaaed sleep I From which none ever wake to weep ; A calm and undisturbed repose, Unbroken by the last of foes. Asleep in Jesus ! Oh, how sweet To be for such a slumber meet ; With holy confidence to sing That death hath lost its veuomed sting ! 44 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. h lit CHAPTER YIII. ** Dr. Chalmers used to complain that many preachers and writers so laid down the Gospel that a sinner could not take it up. What they stated sounded very like the Gospel, but yet it contained no (jlad tuHnt/s ; for it still left the sinner something to do or to feel, before lie could con- sider himself qualified to partake of its joys. It affirmed a certain kind of freeness in the Gospel, but so hampered with conditions, cautions, and restrictions, that no sinner, just as adnuer, could think himself at liberty to enter at once into peace with God. It did not bring salvation nigh, or at least so nigh as to be in contact with the sinner ; it left a gulf, or at least a space, between him and the Saviour. It sent forth repentance, contrition, morti- fication, as prerequisites to the acquiring of which the sinner was to direct all his efforts before he was warranted to throw himself into the arms of the Saviour. It was jealous of a speedy settlement between the sinner and his God ; nay, it warned men against such a thing as a delu- sion. It made doubting the evidence of believing, as if it had been written, not ' he that believeth is justified,' but * he that doubteth is justified.' * For a man to doubt was the essence of true humility ; to continue doubting was the mark of increasing humility ; to fall into despondency, so as to conclude that God had forsaken him, and that his day of grace was gone, was proof of the deepest lowliness of spirit that could be conceived. This despondency was the true state of soul in which he could best acquire that * poverty of spirit,' that * meekness,' that * pureness of THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 45 heart,' by obtaining which he would at length find himself qualified to come to Christ, and entitled to the peace of the cross ! *' But, dear reader, all this is the very reverse of God's plan. Hear the words of the Lord Jesus Himself : * For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-bcgottea Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John iii. IG). '* Again : ♦ Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condem- nation ; but is passed from death unto life ' (John v. 24). ** Denham Smith has said with regard to this text, that it is as though the Lord let down from heaven three golden links in the chain of His mercy. These links are, Heaniiff, helievinrj, haviiirf. But Satan forges the three iron fetters — Doing, feeling, pruyinij. " Think not, my friend, for one moment that I would counsel your not praying. Prayer is the life and breath of the Christian's soul ; but you must Itelieve before your prayer is acceptable to God. " ' He that believeth not God hath made him a liar ; because he believeth not the record that God gave of liis Son, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son ' (1 John v. 10, 11). " You will, I am sure, admit that to make God a liar is a fearful thing. Only believe, and you shall have joy and peace. Then will your prayer be as incense, and the hfting up of your hands as the evening sacrifice. *' Man is ever prone to do something for himself — too proud to accept as a free gift that which Jesus has done for him. Set a man the hardest task, and tell him tliat the accomplishment of this would save his soul, and I verily utlieve he would endeavour to perform it. Man's •i i,sl "TT"' ll ll ,,; 4G THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. own idea ever is — doiiuf. Mark the question put to the Lord Jesus in John vi. 28-20, * What shall we do that we miglit work the icorks of God ? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.' " — The Witness. Come, sinner, to the gospel feast, Oh come without delay ; For there is room in Jesus' breast For all who will obey. There's room in God's eternal love To save thy precious soul ; Eoom in the Spirit's grace above To heal and make thee whole. There's room within the church, redeemed With blood of Christ divine ; Eoom in the white-robed throng convened, For that dear soul of thine. There's room in heaven among the choir, And harps, and crowns of gold, And glorious palms of victory there, And joys that ne'er were told. There's room around thy Father's board For thee and thousands more ; Oh come and welcome to the Lord ; Yea, come this very hour. ** There was once a poor man, a huckster, who used to go round the country villages selling his little goods. This poor creature in going round on his journeys heard some old women singing the simple little ditty — ■* I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all, But Jesus Christ is my all in all.' " Jack recollected that. ' Ah ! ' said he, * that just suits me.' So he began to hum it himself as he went THE SINKER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 47 rouutl on his huckstering expeditions, and by God's good grace that Httle ditty burnt its way into poor Jack's heart. After some time he became a converted man, gave up his swearing and drinking, and began regularly to attend the house of God. *' At last he determined that he would join the church ; so he went to the minister. The minister said, ' Well, friend, what can you say for yourself ? ' ' Not much,' said he, ' only this : — " I'm a poor sinner, anil nothing at all, But Jesus Christ is my all in all." " ' Well,' said the minister, ' you must tell me more than that.' * No,' said Jack, ' I can't, for that is my con- fession of faith, and that is all I know.' 'Well, friend,' said the minister, ' I cannot refuse you church fellowship, but you will have to come before the church meeting, and the members will have to see you and judge of you.' '* Jack accordingly went to the church meeting, and there sat some good old-fashioned deacons — some of whom began to see whether they could not find fault with him. John stood up, and on being retjuested to state his ex- perience, simply said — * I'm a poor sinner, and nothing at all, But Jtsus Christ is my all in all.' *' So one old deacon said, * Is that all you have to say '? * Yes,' says Jack, ' that's all.' The minister said, * You may ask my friend here ?ome questions if you like.' So one says, ' Brother John, have you not many doubts and fears ? ' * No,' said John, * I never can doubt but that * I'm a poor sinner, and nothing at all,' for / hum I am ; and I cannot doubt that * Jesus Christ is my all in all,' for He says He is, and how can I doubt that ? ' a 1^ M 48 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. mi t 'Well,' said another, 'but sometimes I lose my evi- dences and my graces, and then I get very sad.' * Oh,' said Jack, * I never lose anything, for in the first place * I'm a poor sinner, and nothing at all,' — no one can rob me if I am nothing at all — and, in the second place, ' Jesus Christ is my all in all,' and who can rob Him ? He is in heaven ; I never get richer or poorer, for I am always nothing, but I always have everything.' Then another began to question him thus : ' But my dear friend John, don't you sometimes doubt whether you are a cliild of God ? ' * Well,' said he, * I don't quite under- stand you ; but I can tell you I never doubt but that ' I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all,' and that * Jesus Christ is my all in all.' ' Ay, ay,' said the other one, ' but sometimes I make great advances on the road to heaven, and then I feel a great deal better, but I often go back again, and that causes me trouble.' ' But,' says John, * I never go forward, for I'm always ' a poor sinner and nothing at all;" but I cannot go back, for ♦ Jesus Christ is my all in all ;' and, blessed be God, He will not go back, and I am safe.' "Always after that in the villages they used to call him, * Happy Jack,' for he was always happy ; and the reason was that you could not drive him from that simple stand- ing point, •' There is nothing in me ; I believe in Christ ; I deserve punishment ; I am lost in myself, but I trust in Him who came into the world to save sinners, and I know He will not let me perish." — A Willanl Tract. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness ; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name : On Christ, the solid rock, I stand ; All other ground is sinking sand. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 49 When darkness seems to veil His face, I rest on His unchanging grace ; In every high and stonny galo, My anchor holds within the veil : On Christ, the solid rock, I stand ; All other ground is sinking sand. His oath. His covenant and blood, Support mo in the whelming flood : When all around my soul gives way. He then is all my hope and stay : On Christ, the solid rock, I stand ; AU other ground is sinking sand. " If you are not a child of God, will you not adopt and practise the following resolutions ? *' 1. I will no longer neglect my soul's salvation. "2. I will regularly attend divine worship. " 3. I will pray for myself, and not bo ashamed of re- ligion. "4. I will ask the prayers of others, and seek with all my heart. *' 5. I will forsake every known sin and cast myself on the mercy of Christ my Saviour." " The Eev. Dr. Eastman, secretary of the American Tract Society, was hurt by his horse during the battle of Sedan, so that he could not stand. . . Over and over he rolled, in pain and blood, and by dead bodies, until he fell against the dying man, and then and there jireached Christ to him, and prayed. At length one of the line officers came up and said, * Where's the chaplain ? one of the staff officers is dying.' ' Here he is,' cried out the sufferer. * Can you come and see a dying officer ? ' * I cannot move ; I had to roll myself to this dying man to talk to him.' * If I detail two men to carry you, can you go ? ' ' Yes.' They took him gently up and carried him 5 ii 111 THE SIXXER AXD HIS SAVIOUR. and lie was thus carried all iiigLt over tlie field of Lattle, and laid down beside bloediiii:^ dying men, while he preached Christ and prayed." — Uiblical Miseum. • Kescuo the porisliinp, care for the tlying ; Suatch tlioin in pity from sin and llic fjrave; Wf'op o'(r the erring one, lift up the fallen, Toll them of Jesns, the njij^hty to save. EoKCUG the perishing, care for the dying ; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. Though they are slighting Ilim, still He is waiting. Waiting the penitent child to receive ; Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently; He will forgive, if they only belic^fv Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore : Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness. Chords that were broken wull vibrate once more. Eescne the perishing, duty demands it ; Strength for thy labour the Lord will provide : Back to the narrow way patiently win them; Tell the poor wand'rcr a Saviour has died. Asleep in Jesus ! peaceful rest ! Whose waking is supremely blest : No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour, That manifests the Saviour's power. Asleep in Jesus! Oh for me May such a blissful refuge be ; Securely shall my ashes lie. Waiting the summons from on high. ' THE SIXXER AXD HIS SAVIOUn. 51 CIIAPTEIl IX. •* But tlio lUiU'vcl grows iinspeukiiLly groat by the glad tidings of salvation, in that Son who is the ' ]\Iiglity Crod.' The love God had to us could not bo valued by silver nor gold, nor by any creature, nor could the salvation He liad devised for us bo wrought bv another than Himself. Only the Son, who came from the bosom of the Father, could bring us into sonsliip. To truly discern His person is itself salvation in all its completeness. It is not, there- fore, a dead dogma, but a living gospel that wo read, in the fact that Jesus was Immanuel, ' God manifest in the flesh.' AVith adoring faith we see that Christ from eter- nity was and is God, the only-begotten and co-equal Son of the Father, whose goings forth were from everlasting, and w^hose throne is for ever and ever. This glorious Son of God — who is God over all blessed for ever — for redemp- tion's sake became man. Ho humbled himself to all the limitations of human life, and was weary and hungry. . . Thus assuming a complete human nature, in order to be both high priest and sin-oftering, He was in His person entirely without sin — a sinless man. . . Thus the salva- tion which is from God is given to men in a Saviour who is both God and man in one person for ever. In His own person He is able to stand for God among men and for men before God, divinely constituted to be a Mediator. " In Him the invisible God became visible and tangible, and the sinner is not only drawn by the cords of a man, but also in seeing and knowing Him, sees and knows the I III' 1i. 52 THE SINNEn AND HIS SAVIOUR. ^ 1 i -1 ^ i !li Father also ; for in Ilim clwelleth the fuhiesB of the God- heiitl hodily. " But in Him, on the otlier hand, God finds the man in wliom lie can deh<i:ht, and worthy to be exalted above every name ; and in Ilim, Avhosocver "will may find a second Adam, or head of the race throngh -whom God can bestow righteonsncKS and life and incorriiption in abounding Ki'^icc, even as throu<;h the first Adam we have all been visited with sin and death. . . But the climax of the marvel of (Jla-isfc's incnrnation and spotless life was His death. The Son of God became man in order to offer Himself a sacrifice for sin. He who knew no sin voluntarily humbled Himself to take the place of a sinner before God's broken law. The Prince of glory died in agony and shame upon the cross. But beyond His shameful rejection by men, nnd beyond all the torture of His crucifixion, there was in His'death a fathomless depth of anguish, to be accounted for only by the judicial act of a righteous God upon a sin-bearer. It is a revealed fact that the spotless One was made sin ; that the Beloved of God was made a curse. " Thus, whether men believe it or not, whether men avail themselves of it or not, the great fact is heralded of God to all the world, that there is a mercy-seat, a meeting- place for God and sinful mnn 's such, upon which and before which the blood 'f • periVci uud ample atonement has been sprinkled. " This accounts fo lo Gospel statements that are with- out limitation, such as ihat * ae Just One suffered 'for the unjust ; ' that Christ ' died lor the ungodly,' tliat He came into the world 'to save sinners.' There i.-, therefore, nothing in God or in the sacrifice to hinder its universal acceptation, and God's 'whosoever' rings at the door of every man's conscience." — C. M. WhiUeht^ and E. I\ TIIK SISWKR AND HIS SAVIOCR. Gardner, in ** Gospel Truth.'' Published hy the Aniericnn Trnet Societi/. Truulili'd in spirit, broken in bonrt, Go to the Saviour, just us thou art. Cio, uiid thy hurik'ti cast on the Lonl ; Hear the Kweet iue.ssa;,'o taught in His word. Lo ! tliy Iii'ileenior saith unto tlice, " I am the Ihead of Life, cujne, come to me." Plenteous in mercy, loving and kind ; Ask, He will give thee ; seek, thou shalt find ; Knock, He will open ; go thou and pray, Ho will not senil thee empty away. Lean on His promise, trust and holievc ; Tell Him thy sorrow, He will reliivo ; Troubled in spirit, broken in heart. Go to the Saviour, just as thou art. " He was seized with severe pain in tlic bowels. During tlie intervals of pain, lie sang, read the New Testament, and requested his mother to read to liira. On the following niglit lie seemed wakeful. His motlier said, ' How do you feel ? ' He rei)lied, * Mother, I feel that what God does will be best.' She asked, ' Have you a hope of heaven ?' * Oh, yes.' * Have you no fears of death ?' ' No.' " After his father and mother had prayed for him by his bedside, he offered a short and fervent pmyer. His voice of supplication was soon turned to that of praise, and W'hile a glow of indescribable animation played upon every feature of his face, he uttered the following lan- guage — ' Praise God, praise God ! ' and clapping his little hands in ecstacy, he said, * Hallelujah — oh, how happy I am ! ' He then began to sing the verses commencing, ' On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan's fair and happy laud, "Where my possessions lie.' Hi ffli' i ■ I ■:. -Sir ;■:■(« I 9 ^ THE SINNER AND IIlS SAVIOUR. " ' His emotions wore so strong,' remarked his physician, ' as entirely to suspend his disease for nearly tlu-ee hours.' He exhorted all around him, and prayed often lor his parents. " At early dawn, his father observed to him that it was morning, and he immediately repeated the lines, ' The morning 1ijj;lit is breaking ; Tlie davlcness disappears ; ' '•After a pause he said, ' I want to die and goto Jesus.' A ^leighbour entering the room, he looked up, and said, *I am dying happy in Jesus,' and again commenced sing- ing his favourite hvmn, ' On J irdau's stormj' banks I stand.' " To his mother he said, * Oh ! I want to go to heaven, but I would not give anything -to go if Jesus were not there.' " His disease increased in severity, and he said, ' I am dying now, and am going to heaven,' and raising his hands and eyes upwards, witli a wonderful expression of countenance, he exclaimed, ' Blessed Jesus ! ' he -rew weaker and weaker, until he (Quietly ' fell asleep ' in Jesus." Thus died on the KJtli April, 184G, Johnny Ives, son of the Rev. D. Ives, of Suilield, Coun., U.S., aged seven years and seven months. T On Jordan's stormy banks T stand, And cast a wisliful eve To Canaan's fair and bapjiy land, \Vk0r3 niy possessions lie. Oh, the transporting, rai)turous scene That rises to my sight ! Sweet tields, arrayed in living green, And rivers of delight. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 65 1, IS it O'er all those wide-extendod plains Shines one eternal day ; There Clod the Son for over reigns, And scatters night awny. No chilling wmds nor poisonous breath Can roach that healthful shore ; Sickness and sorrow, pain and death. Arc felt and feared no more. Filled with delight, my raptured soul Would here no longer stay ; Though Jordan's waves should round me roll, I'd fearless launch away. ii •* The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God " (Psa. ix. 17). An awful truth, this ! but it is not one whit more true than ** That whoso- ever believeth in him shoukl not perish, but have eternal LIFE " (John iii. 15). " ^Yhosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved " (llom. x. 13). True, true, true ! but no more so than, "' But he that believeth not shall be damned" (Luke xvi. IG). Just as sure as there are sinners requirimj to he saced, just so sure there is a Saviour who " sai-es to the uttermost." Tiiis small cluster of truths must stand or fall together. 'Tis rehgion that can give Sweetest pleasures while we live 'Tis religion must supply Solid comfort when we die. After death its joys shall be Lasting as eternity ; I3e the living God my friend. Then my bliss shall never end. 66 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTEE X. iill •* And as for some of yon who are not saved, and know not the Redeemer, I would to God that this very day you would come to Christ. I dare say you think coming to Christ is some terrible thing ; that you need to be pre- pared before you come ; that He is hard and harsh witJi you. When men have to go to a lawyer they need to tremble ; when they have to go to a doctor they may fear ; though both those persons, however unwelcome, may be often necessary. But when you come to Christ you may come boldly. There is no fee required, there is no preparation necessary. You may come just as you are. It was a brave saying of Martin Luther's, when he said, * I would run into Christ's arms even if He had a drawn sword in His hand.' Now, He has not a dravm sword, but He has His wounds in His hands. Eun into His arms, poor sinner. ' Oh,' you say, * may I come ? ' How can you ask the question ? you are commanded to come. The great command of the gospel is, ' Believe on the Lord Jesus.' Those who disobey this command dis- obey God. It is as much a commf.ad of God that man should believe on Christ as that we should love our neigh- bour. Now, what IS a command I have certainly a right to obey. There can be no question, you see. A sinner has liberty to believe in Christ because he is told to do so. God would not have told him to do a thing which he must not do. *♦ You are allowed to believe. * Oh,' saith one,"* that is 1 1 want to know. I do believe that Christ is able to THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 57 save to the uttermost. Ma>/ I rest my soul on Him, and say, sink or swim, most blessed Jesus, thou art my Lord ? ' AFatj do it ! man ? Why, you are commanded to do it. Oh, that you may be enabled to do it. Remember, this is not a thing which you will do at a risk. The risk is in not doing it. Cast yourself on Christ, sinner. Tlirow away every other dependence, and rest alone on Him. * No,' says one, * I am not prepared.' Prepared ! sir ? Then you do not understand me. There is no prepa- ration needed ; it is, just as you are. * Oh, I do not feel my need enough.' I know you do not. "What has that to do with it ? You are commanded to cast yourself on Christ. Be you never so black, or never so bad, trust to Him. He that bclioveth on Christ shall be saved, be his sins never so many ; he that bclieveth not must be damned, be his sins never so few. The great command of the gospel is, * Believe.' * Oh,* but saith one, * am I to say I know that Christ died for me ? ' Ah, I did not say that, you shall learn that by and by. You have nothing to do with that ques- tion now, your business is to believe on Christ and trust Him ; to cast yourself into His hands. And may God the Spirit now sweetly compel you to do it. Now, sinner, hands off your own righteousness. Drop all idea of be- coming better through your own strength. Cast yourself on the promise. Say— •iMJ' i! if;; 'Just as I am, witliout one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, Aud that Thou bidd'st mo como to Thcc, Lamb of God I I come, I come' " Now, have I made myself understood ? If there were a number of persons hero in debt, and I were to say, ' If you will simply trust to me, your debts shall be paid, and ,1 'i 58 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. no creditor shall ever molest you,' you would understand me directly." — liei'. C. II. Spttrt/eoit's SiTuwns. Just as I am, and waiting:; not To rid myself of one dark blot, To Theo, whose I'lood can cleausc each spot, O Lamb of God, I come ! Just as I am, thouj^h tossed about With many a coiillict, many a doubt. With fears within, and wars without, Lamb of God, I come ! Just as I am. Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve ; Because Thy promise I believe, Lamb of God, I come ! Just as T am— Thy lovo unknown Has broken every barrier tlowu ; Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, Lamb of God, I came ! The Eev. William Ehodes of Damerham, E^igland, gives the followinj^ narration of his conversion in a letter dated September, 1824: — " On the Weunesday night that I became a Christian, poor Henry again conversed with me on religious topics, and invited me to go with him to meeting on the morrow evening, but felt utter distaste and contempt for his piety. I would not promise to go when we parted ; I mused upon it, and determined iicver to go. In this temper I went to sleep. This proved a memorable night to me. The mo- ment I opened my eyes in the morning, I felt myself a new being. A fresh set of sentiments and feelings rushed into my mind and perfectly amazed me. No language I have at command will fully convey to you what I felt. All things appeared to me in a new light ; I felt most i t i THE SINXER ASD IIIS SAVIOUR. 59 vividly concerned, distressed, alarmed, about my soul and God. The deep things of religion gleamed through the ignorance of my mind in dim, misty, fearful colours. All the feelings of dislike for Henry and his religion when I closed my eyes in sleep were now completely gone, and I felt an inexpressible longing to be religious. I felt as if I had been i)laced in a new world in clouded moonlight ; all was new, strange, and appalling ; yet nothing dis- tinctly seen. . . . Eeligion. though I did not understand its nature, nor how to seek it — religion and eternity filled every moment of thought, and appeared tome to be simply and sublimely my all. I felt that I had all to learn, all to feel, and all to do for the salvation of my soul. I longed for pardon ; the way of mercy through a Saviour began to open before me with indistinct but delightful freshness. Oh what Divine rest and beauty, I soon felt and saw in the simple plan of salvation through Christ's death ! The following Saturday I learnt a hymn, the first I ever learnt, and entered fully into its affecting import : :Jii I ' Aud now tlio scales have left miue eyes,- Now I begiu to see.' A spivit of prayer was poured into me, and on my way home in tlie dark, I, who had never prayed without a form, prayed for an hour in uiy own language, from the fulness of my heart." The above is copied from " Power in Weakness," being a memoir of the said Mr. Rhodes, published in 1858. It is so called on account of the great and good lifework he did in spite of his lameness and feebleness ol body. Previous to this change all was darkness, but afterwards his j)atli was that of the just, shining more and more until the perfect day. CO THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. I ouce was a stranger to grace and t) God, I know uot my danger, and felt not my lo ul : Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree, jEnovAir TsiDKENu was nothing to me. Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll, I wept when the waters wont over His soul ; Yet thought not that my sins i;ad nailed to the tree jEnovAii TsiDKENu — 'twas nothing to mo ! When free grace awoke me hy light from on high, Then legal fears shook me, I tremhled to die ; No refuge nor safety in self could I see — Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be. My teiTors all vanished before the sweet name : My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came, To drink at the fountain life-giving and free. Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me ! Ev'n treading the valley and shadow of death. This w^atchword shall rally my faltering breath ; And when from life's fever my God sets me free, Jehovah Tsidkenu my death-song shall be. •4 " You must 2)ra!/ that you may be taught how to pray. .... If you cannot pray in prayer tell the Lord so. . . . To believe is, when a poor soul being made sensible of its lost and undone condition by sin, doth earnestly desire, as they do that are hungry and thirsty after a Saviour .... Oh, eternitii ! eternity ! How should the thought thereof fill us ! To be miserable to eternity ! How miserable ! To be liapi^y to eternity ! What happiness ! " — Rev. Thomas Seott (Cui)inieiitator). We speak of the realms of the blest ; That country so bright and so fair ; And oft are its glories confessed. But what must io be to be there 1 If' THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. 61 CHAPTER XI. •* Oh ! come to Christ — that is the eucl of it — come to Christ. He will not refuse to accept you. Mark the zeal with which the apostle Paul proclaims the truth ; mark the zeal, the love, indomitahle and unfailing, with which he clung to the Master — * I determined to know nothing among men hut Christ, and him crucified.' Oh, rare and matchless attachment ! fastening upon that which was most in opprobiium and in contumely among men. Never did the earncoc student of philosophy, as he came away from some Socratic prelection, utter his allirmation, ' I am determined to knoAV nothing among men save Socrates, and him poisoned ; ' never did enraptured youth listen to the persuasive eloquence of Cicero, and utter his affirmation, ' I determined to know nothing among men save Cicero, and him proscrihed.' But Paul takes the very vilest brand of shame, and hinds it about his hrow as a diadem of glory : ^ I determined to Jikow notlnwj amoiuj wen but Christ, caul him crucijied.* Yes, tliat is it, ' Christ, and hint crucified,' * God forhid that I should glory, save in the cross.' In the cross is to be our chiefest glory. *' Trust that cross for yourselves ; take hold of it, it is consecrated. In all circumstances of your history, in all exigencies of your mortal lot, take firm hold of the cross. When the destroying angel rides forth upon the cloud, when his sword is whetted for destruction, clasp the cross ; it shall bend over you as a shield and a shade ; he will relax his frown, and sheath his sword, and pass quickly, If m i I C2 THE SIXXEli AM) HIS SAVIOUR. Lannk'ssly by. "Wlicu your feet iire toiling up the slope, niid you arrive at the gate of heaven, hold up the cross ; the angels shall know it, and the cvcrlasiing doors shall unhar themselves, and you may enter in. When you pass through the ranks of ajjplauding seraphims, that you may pay your first homage to the throne, present the cross, and lower it before the face of the Master, and He, for wlioso sake you have borne it, will take it from you, and replace it with a crown." — J'^.rtract from ScruKin In/ llrr. WlUiain M. Pnmhon, D.D. Ai'isc, my soul, arise ; Shiiko (iff thy guilty fears ; The blecMling Sacrifice lu my behah' appears. Before the throne my Surety stands ; My name is written on His hands. He ever lives above, For me to intercede, — His all-redeeminp; love, His iirecit)as blood to jdead : His blood atoned for all our race, And sprinkles now the throne of grace. Five bleeding wounds He boars, lleceived on Calvary ; They pour effectual prayers, They strongly jilead for mo ; *' Forgive him, oh, forgive," they cry, " Nor let that ransomed sinner die." Alfred W. Cockerton died at Mr. Spurgeon's orphan- age, of which he had been an inmate six years, on the 12th of April, 1878. «' Tl)e Sword and Trowel " for June, 1878, contains an interesting account of this lad's sickness and death, from which we cull the following : — '* On the 19th of February he was asked by a young lady if he was resting in Jesus ; he answered, 'Well, I don't think I THE SIXNER ASIJ IIIS S.Ll'lOUR. 63 am quite firm.' On being fuvtlicr questionctl, the truth was applied to his heart, and he smihngly said, ' I see it ! ' The next morning his first words were, ' / can so happy ! I have felt Jesus with me all night.' "A minister from Lancashire asked him if he had any message to send to the hoys and girls of Lancashire. ' Tell them,' said he, ' to lore Jcsks, and lire/or heaven.' \\\ answer to a letter written to him by a friend, he wrote . . . . ' You will be glad to hear that I have found Jesus and that Jesus is making me very happy. He will be with me in the time of death, and then I shall have no fear. ** When I pass through the waves they will not overflow," I know you will excuse the little said. I was sitting up in bed all day writing yesterday. I send my best love. Good-bye. God bless you.' A friend reminded him that there was but a little bit of road fur him to travel ; he expressed a desire to depart. Shortly before his death, while the doctor was gazing in silence upon the poor lingering sufferer, he withdrew his hand from the bed- clothes and pointed upwards, his eyes beaming with joy at the evident prospect of so soon being in heaven. He was unable to speak, but the silent elo(^uence of the ges- ture spoke louder than words. He evidently meant it for the same message that he sent to the boys and girls of Lancashire : * Love Jesus, and live for heaven.' "While on his dying bed he composed five verses of poetry, the first three of which we give below — " Gentle Jesus, can it be, I that nailed Thee to the tree ? Didst Thou die for ; inful me On the cross of Calvary? "Yes, dear Lord, not only I, But all people made Thee die ; All of us like sheep had strayed, All our sius on Thee Averc laid. till 04 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. " Now all tboso who tinist in Thee, From tlioir many sins am fr(>e ; God's great lovo to *liem is given, For He sent Tho'; down from heaven." *' If I were to como as an accredited agent from heaven, witli a letter of invitation to you, with your name and address on it, you would not doubt your warrant to accept it. Well, here in the Bible is your invitation to come to Christ. It does not, it is true, bear your name and address ; but it says, *■ W/iosocrcr : ' that takes you in. It says, ^ All ! ' that takes you in. It says, 'If cuiy!' that takes you in. What can be surer and freer than that ? " — Dr. Chalmers. *' Whosoever will," the proiiiiHo is secure; " Whosoever will," for ever shall endure ; " Whosoever will," 'tis life for evermore : " Whosoever will may come." '* Whosoever hcareth ! " shout, shout the sound 1 Send the blessed tidings all the world around ! Spread the joyful news wherever man is found, " Whosoever will may come." "Wliosoever comoth need not delay ; Now the door is ojien, enter while yc may : Jesus is the true, the only Living Way, " Whosoever will may come." THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER XII. (i Be my iniquities like debts of millions of talents, here is more than full payment for all that prodigious sum. Let the enemy of mankind, and accuser of the brethren, load me with invectives ; this one plea — a Divine Redeemer died — most thoroughly quashes every indictment. For, though there be much turpitude and manifold trans- gressions, ' there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.' Nay, were I chargeable with all the vilest deeds which have been committed in every age of the world, by every nation of men ; even in this most de- plorable case, I need not sink into despair. Even such guilt, though grievous beyond all expression, is not to be compared with that abundance of fjrace and righteousness which dwell in the incarnate Divinity. How great, how transcendently glorious are the perfections of the adored Jehovah ! so great, so superlatively precious, is the expia- tion of the dying Jesus. 'Tis impossible for the human mind to exact this atonement too highly ; 'tis impossible for the humble penitent to confide in it too steadily. The Scriptures, the Scriptures of eternal truth have said it — exult my soul in the belief of it ! — that the blood on which we rely is God's oun blood ! and therefore all-suffi- cient to expiate, omnipotent to save. '* What suitable returns of inflamed and adoring devo- tion can we make to the Holy One of God ; thus dying, that we might live ; dying in ignominy and anguish, that we might live for ever in the heights of joy, and sit for ever on thrones of glory ? Alas ! it is not in us, impotent, 6 iH / / / 1 i < \ ' i i '\ • i i ! 1 A.. CO THE SINNER AND LIS SAVIOUR. inscnsihlo mortals, to bo duly thankful. Tic only wlio coiilors sucli inconceivably rich favours can enkindle a proper warmth of grateful affections. Then build thyself a moniDiioit, most gracious hiivuuinfl, build thyself an everlasting monument, of .(jrutitude in our souls. Inscribe the memory of Thy matchless beneficence, not "with ink and pen, but with that precious bluud which gushed from Thy wounded veins. Engrave it, not with the hammer and chisel, but with that sharpened spear which pierced Thy sacred side. Let it stand conspicuous and indelible, not on outward tables of stone, but on the very inmost tablcn of our hearts." — Eev. James Ilarveij, M.A. (** Medita- tions.") There is a fouutain filled with blood, Drawn froiu Immaiuicrs veins ; And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day ; And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall nevor lose its power. Till all the ransomed Church of God Be saved, to sin no more. The biographer of Dr. Payson well remarks that his sick chamber was " a field of triumph." His state of mind is well portrayed in the following extracts from " Last Days of the Eev. Dr. Payson," published by the Eeligious Tract Society. " My dear Sister, — Were I to adopt the figurative lan- guage of Bunyan, I might date this letter from the land of Beulah, of which I have been for some weeks a happy i f ! THE SISXER AND HIS SAVIOVR. 07 inhabitant. The celestial city is full in my view. Its glories beam upon me, its breezes fan me, its odours are wafted to mc, its sounds strike upon my cars, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing separates me from it but the river of death, which now appears but as an insignificant rill that may be crossed at a single step, whenever God shall give permission. The Sun of Right- eousness has been gradually drawing nearer and nearer, appearing larger and brighter as He approached, and now He fills the whole hemisphere ; pouring forth a flood of glory, in which I seem to float like an insect in the beams of the sun ; exulting, yet almost trembling, while I gaze on this excessive brightness, and wondering, with unutter- able wonder, why God should deign thus to shine upon a simple worm. A single heart and a single tongue seem altogether inadequate to my wants. I want a whole heart for every separate emotion, and a whole tongue to express that emotion. '* But why do I speak thus of myself and my feelings ? why not speak only of our God and Redeemer ? It is be- cause I know not what to say. When I would speak of them, my words are all swallowed up. I can only tell you what effects their presence produces, and even of these I can tell you but very little. Oh, my sister, my sister ! could you but know what awaits the Christian ; could you only know so much as I know, you could not refrain from rejoicing, and even leaping for joy. liabours, trials, troubles would be nothing : you would rejoice in afflictions, and glory in tribulations ; and, like Paul and Silas, sing God's praises in the darkest night, and in the deepest dungeon." " After a short pause he continued : ' It makes nrv blood run cold to think how inexpressibly miserable I should now be without religion. To lie here, and see myself M i^ 68 rilE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. tottering on the verge of destruction ! Oli, I should be distracted ! And when I see my fellow-creatures liable every moment to be reduced to this situation, I am in an agony for them, that they may escape their danger before it be too late.' *' He afterwards said, * I am always sorry when I say anything to any one who comes in ; it seems so inade- quate to what I wisli to express. The words sink right down under the weight of the meaning I wish to con- vey.' . . . •' My young friends, were I master of the whole world, what could it do for me like this ? Were all its wealth at my feet, and all its inhabitants striving to make me happy, what could they do for me ? Nothing ; nothing. Now all this happiness I trace back to the religion which I have preached, and to the time when that great change took place in my heart which I have often told you is necessary to salvation ; and I now tell you again, that without this change you cannot — no, you cannot — see the kingdom of God." . . . *' While speaking of the rapturous views he had of the heavenly world, he was asked if it did not seem almost like the clear light of vision, rather than that of faith. ' Oh ! ' he replied, ' I don't know, it is too much for the poor eyes of my soul to bear ! they are almost blinded with the excessive brightness. All I want is to be a mirror, to reflect some of those rays to those around me.' . . . " A friend, with whom he had been conversing on his extromo bodily sufferings and his high spiritual joys, re- marked, ' I presume it is no longer incredible to you, if ever it was, that martyrs should rejoice and praise God in the liames and on the rack.' 'No,' said he, •! can easily believe it. I have suffered twenty times, yes, to si_eak within boundS; twenty times as much as I could THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 69 in being burned at the stake; while my joy in Goil so abounded as to render my sufferings not only tolerable, but welcome. ** The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed." ' " * God is my all in all ; while He is present with me no event cau hi the least diminish my happiness ; and were the whole world at my feet, trying to minister to my com- fort, they could not add one drop to the cup.' " He died happy in the Lord, October 22, 1827. How tedious and tasteless the hours Wliou Jesus no longer I sec ! Sweet pros];)ects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers, Have all lost their sweetness with me. The midsummer sun shines but dim ; The Helds strive i". vain to look gay ; But when I am hajipy in Him, December's as pleasant as May, His name yields the richest perfume, And sweeter than music His voice ; His presence disperses my gloom. And makes all withm me rejoice : I should, were He always thus nigh, Have nothing to wish or to fear ; No mortal so happy as 1 ; My summer would la«t all the year. Content with beholding His face. My all to His \ 'jasure resigned, No change of season or place Would make any change in my mind: AYhile bleseed with a sense of His love, A palace a toy would appear ; Aiad prisons would palaces prove, If Jesus would dwtdl with me there. ! 14 Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine, If Thou ait my sun and my song, 1 • :m ■1 i ■'■>. I 70 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Say, why do I languish and pine, And why are my winters so long ? Oh, drive these dark clouds from my sky ; Thy soul-cheering presence restore : Or take me unto Thee on high. Where wnter and clouds are no more, The Eev. W. A. Guim, of Iloxton, Eiiglantl, thus T\Tites of a young man wliom lie once visited: — "I began to point to Jesus, the sinner's only Friend. With an agonis- ing look of despair, he replied, * Ah, sir, but I hr.ve re- jected the gospel. Some years since I unhappily read Paine's " Age of Eeason." It suited my corrupt taste. I embraced its principles. Thus I rejected Cr-'^, and now He rejects me.' Then, with a dismal groan, Lt cried out, ' Paine's *' Age of Reason " has ruined my soul ! ' and in- stantly expired." — Closing Scenes, Ba^nist Publication Society. The reader of this paragraph will be everlastingly saved or everlastingly lost (Mark xvi, 16). You cannot save yourself, that is sure (Eph. ii. 8, 9) ; but you can actually be saved now (2 Cor. vi. 2). Jesus Christ asks the reader, *' What shnll it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul " (Mark viii. 30). Fully persuaded — Lord, I believe ! Fully persuaded — Thy Spirit give ; I will obey Thy call, Low at Thy feet I fall ; N(»v I surrender all, Christ to receive. Fully persuaded — Lord, hear my cry! Fully persuaded — pass me not by ; Just as I am I come, I will uo longer roam, Oh, make my heart Thy home ; Save or I die ! THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 71 CHxiPTER XIIL ■|i "Now, notice three vast doors through which the hugost and most elephantine sinner that ever made the earth shake beneath the weight of his guilt may go. Here are the three doors. * Whosoever' — ^ xcilV — 'freeli/.^ 'Whosoever,' there is the first door. 'Whosoever' — then what man dare have the impudence to say, that he is shut out ? If you say that you cannot come in under * uhosoever,' I ask you how you dare narrow a word which is in itself so broad, so infinite. ' Whosoever ' — that must mean every man that ever lived, or ever shall live, while yet he is here and wills to come. Well, then, the word ' ivilL' There is nothing abon- past character, nor pre- sent character ; nothing aboitt knowledge, or feeling, nor anything else but the will : * Whosoever will.' Speak of the gate standing ajar ! This looks to me like taking the door right off the hinges and carrying it away. • Who- soever will.' There is no hindrance whatever in vour way. And then 'freely,' God's gifts are given without any expectation or recompense, or any requirements and conditions — * Let him take the water of life freely.' Thou hast not to bring thy good feelings, or good desires, or good works, but come and take freely what God gives you for nothing. You are not even to bring repentance and faith in order to obtain grace, but you are to come and accept repentance and faith as the gifts of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit. What broad gates of mercy these are ! How wide the entrance which love has pre- pared for coming souls ! ' Whusoevcr ! ' ' Will ! ' * Freely I ' 'V-i 72 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUn. I'l I if !! ■! ■m 111 II " Observe how the invitation sums up the work the sinner is called upon to do. First, he is hidden to come. ' Who- soever will, let him come.' Now, to come to Christ means simply for the soul to draw near to Him by trust- ing Him. You are not asked to bring a load with you, nor to work for Christ in order to salvation, but just to come to Him. Nothing is said about the style of coming ; come running or creeping, come boldly or timidly, for if you do but come to Jesus, he will in no wise cast you out. A simple reliance upon the Lord Jesus is the one essen- tial for eternal life. *' Then the next direction is 'take.' 'Whosoever will, let him take.' That is all. That word ' take ' is a grand word to express the Gospel. 'The world's gospel is 'bring ; ' Christ's gospel is 'take.' Nature's gospel is 'make:' just change the letter, and you have the gospel of grace, which is ' take.' There is the water, dear friends ; you have not to dig a well to find it, you have only to take it. There is the bread of heaven ; you have not to grind the flour or bake the loaf, you have only to take it. There is a garment woven from the top throughout, and without seam ; you have not to add a fringe to it, you have only to take it. T'he way of salvation may be summed up in the four letters of the word ' take.' Do you desire Christ ? take Him. Do you want pardon ? take it. Do you need a new heart ? take it. Do you want peace on earth ? take it. Do you want heaven hereafter ? take it — that is all. * Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' " And there is one other word whicli I love to dwell on, and it comes twice over : ' let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let hi>n take.' It is graciously said, let him. It seems to me as if the Lord Jesus Christ saw a poor soul standing thirsty at the flowing crystal fountain of THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 73 I His love, and the devil standing there whispered to him, * You see the sacred stream, but it flows for others. It is what you need, but you must not have it ; it is not for you.' Listen ! there is a voice from beyond the clouds which cries aloud, * Let him take it ! Stand back, devil, let the willing one come ! ' He is putting down his lip to drink — he understands it now — but there comes ruslung upon him a host of his old sins like so many winged harpies, and they scream out to him, ' Go back, you must not draw nigh, this fountain is not for you ; this pure crystal stream must not be defiled by such leprous hps as yours ! ' Again there comes from the throne of love this blessed password, ' Let him come, and lot him take.' " Josus tho water of lifo lias given Freely, freely, freely ; Jesus the water of life has given Freely fur every siuner. Come to that fountain, oh, drink and live I Freely, freely, freely ; Come to that fountain, oh, drink and live I Flowing for every sinner. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come ; freely, freely, freely; And ho that is thirsty, let him come, and drink of tho water of lil'o. Tho fountain of life is flowing, flowing, freely flowing ; The fountain of life is flowing, is flowing for you and for me. Jesus has promised a homo in heaven. Freely, freely, freely ; Jesus has promised a home in heaven. Freely to those that love Him. Treasures unfailing will there be given, Freely, freely, freely ; Treasures unfailing will there bo given, Freely to those that love Him. *' I and my fellow-superintendent, Mr. Scholield, thonglit it advisable to hasten to the humble cottage of one of our ;, J:i Li I II THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. sick scholars to apprise her of our approach (a procession of Sunday-school children). We found her very near her end, but at her request had been i)laced on an elevated chair before the window, in order that she might * see her beloved teachers and scholars once again before she died,' On entering the cottage to tell her, she said, ' Yes, I hear them ; they arc all coming singing the hymn I have so often joined in.' As the procession drew nearer, all turned, towards the cottage where Elizabeth Clegg was dying, for she was well known to them. As they drew up in front of the house, and saw her altered looks, many turned their heads to weep, and when, at her request, they sang — ' There is a better world, they say,' Elizabeth's countenance brightened up with rapturous joy. As they moved away, singing — 'Oh! tliat willbe joj-ful ! When we meet to part no more,' Elizabeth, in a whisper, bade them farewell. "After passing through several other streets, we drew near to the home of another dying scholar. She had been lifted from her bed in order that she might see her class-mates pass. At her request they sang — ' 'Tis religion that can give Swectefit pleasure while we live ; 'Tis religion must supply Solid comfort when we die.' *• The house we are now approaching was the home of Miss Anno Marsden, one of the teachers, dying of consump- tion. She, like the other two just named, had not religion to seek on a deathbed. . . . She was placed in an easy- chair before the drawing-room window, in order that she might have a look at us passing. " As the procession drew vi\) in front of the house the THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUIJ. 76 singing subsided, and we formed a half-circle, so that each one could see the dying teacher as she sat supported at the window. It was asked her what hymn she wished us to sing, she, with a quiet smile, replied, ' The seventeenth hymn.' The words of the hymn sent a thrill to every soul, and were sung amidst sobs and tears — * What's this that Btoals upon my frame ? Is it death ? That soon will quench this vital flame ? Is it death ? If this be death, I soon shall be From every pain and sorrow free, I shall my Lord in glory see — All is well! ' "Weep not, my friends, weep not for me, All is well ; My sins are pardoned, I am free ; All is well. There's not a cloud that doth arise, To hide my Saviour from my eyes; I 80on shall mount the upper sLifS — All is well. ' Hark, my Lord and Master calls me, All is well ; I shall see Ilis face in glory, All is well. Farewell, dear frielids, adieu, adieu, I can no longer stay with you — • My glittering crown appears iu view ; All is well. ' Hail, hail, all hail, ye blood-washed throng. Saved by grace ; I've come to join your rapturous song, Saved by grace. All, all is peace and joy divine, All heaven and glory now are mine ; Oh, Hallelujah to the Lamb ! AU is well!' vW li ¥ Kt »tWJ» 'UIM'iu 1 i i 1 i *i '' ( t ': ^ ■ ; 76 THE sinxi':r axd his saviouu. " Here was a scene for those who doubt the power of saving grace to fortify the soul against the fear of death. Here we could see how tlic religion of the Bible, the saving power of the blood of Christ, could take away all fear of death or the grave from one who was surrounded with every- thing that could make life desirable — youth, wealth, kc " When the hymn was concluded, we silently, and with sad hearts, looked our last look at the dying girl. In a few days after she was carried to the grave." — Kxtructed from " Stratttjc Tales.*' llcpublishcd hi/ Methodist Conference Office, Toronto, Ontario. Sliall wo meet beyond the river. Where the surges cense to roll? Where in all the bright " for ever," Borrow ne'er shall press the soul ? Shall wc meet in that blest harbour, When our stormy voyage is o'er? Shall wc meet and cast the anchor, By the fair celestial shore ! Shall we meet with many a loved one, That was torn from our embrace ? Shall we listen to their voices, And behold them face to face ? Shall wc meet with Christ our Saviour, When lie comes to claim His own 1 Shall we know His blessed favour. Sit with Kim upon His throne ? " What is it to believe the Gospel ? It is simply and solely the acceptance of Christ's finished work by a hell- deserving sinner. Out of this flows sorrow for sin, and all joy and peace in believing — not believing from peace, but peace from believing ; not waiting to feel first, then feeling happy as the result ; not waiting first till you are betler (that you will never be), but just as you are, accept- ' w THE SINNER AND HIS SAVinr'R. 11 ing freely a finished salvation wrouglit out by Jesus Christ on the cross." — liritish Workman. " The Gospel wliieh saves me, which delivers mc from all my troubles, is simply this : ' My chihl, I know your nature, for I am the Author of it, and tliat nature, in all its demands, shall be fully satisfied. 15ut you mistake in supposing that the world could give you the satisfaction you desire, even if you possessed all it could give. But I will do it. I now give you my absolute promise, that what you have been so long pining for (and which, though you liave mistaken its formal object, is the demand of a true nature), you shall yet possess beyond the dreams of fiction. I could at once make such a revelation of myself to you as would deliver you from all farther uncertainty. But this would tend rather to your own exaltation than mine — and, therefore, for this, as well as for other reasons, I must do it by a process of discipline." — Xurtheru Christian Adcocate. Behold a stranger at the door ! He gently knocks— lias knocked before ; Has waited long — is waiting still ; You treat no other friend so ill. But will He prove a friend indood? He will ! — the very friend you need t The Man of Nazareth ! — 'tis He, ^Vith garments dyed at Calvary. Oh, lovely attitude ! — He stands With melting heart, and ladtn hands ! Oh, matchless kindness ! — and He shows This matchless kindness to His foes. Admit Him, ero His anger burn — Lest He depart and ne'er return ; Admit Him, or the hour's at hand When at His dcor denied you'll stand ! ri i t 1 ; i i ; ■ ! 1 1 L» ySg^^B titp: sts'nkr axd iii:=i saviour. CHAPTER XIV. ** God loves mo ! Many persons entirely mistake tlio Gospel. Tlicy imagine that God is now demanding some- thing of them — tliat they have something to do in order to he saved. At least, they think, they must love God before He can regard them with complacency. They do not seo that the Gospel is the very opposite to this ; that it is a declaration of God's love to man, and that God in it hrings to them, just as they are, everything they need for present peace and eternal blessing, through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing for the sinner to do ; first, because he cannot do anything acceptable to God — * thci/ that are in the Jlesh cannot ijlcase God ; ' and, secondly, because Jesus has done it all. ♦* The thought that we must love God, to be saved, in- stead of being saved solely because God loves us, clings most tenaciously to fallen nature ; but nothing short of seeing God's love to us in the cross of Christ, even when we were dead in sins, can give peace. '* Christ died for sinners. That is just what I am — so Christ died for me. And how do I know this ? by my own feelings ? Nay, but the self-same word which tells me I am a sinner, that I am ungodly, tliat I am unjust, tells me that Ho died for sinners — the ungodly, the unjust. Many are coming short of this blessed conclusion, because they are looking to be made something else than what they are. They are unwilling to give up the thought of some qualification or prepriration in themselves. Ah ! if they were aught else than sinners, what part could they have THE SINXER AND II IS SAVIOUR. 79 iu Christ ? They are lookhig into their owu licarts fur peace, antl tliey might as well look iuto the bottomless pit for peace. The ground of peace is uot there, but iu Christ, and the proof of my interest in Ilim is not there, but iu the Scriptures. * Christ died for our sins,' according to the Scriptures. * He was buried, and rose again,' according to the Scriptures. There is, indeed, joy to them who be- lieve the record which God has given us ; but alas for those who put their joy, their experience, iu the place of Christ, and who look to their feelings instead of the im- mutable certainty of the Word of God ! The sum of it all is this, if you are indeed a great sinner, a lost and undone sinner — if you are the leper, covered all over with leprosy, then here is God's Christ meeting all your need. His blood cleanseth from all sin, and by Him all tliat believe are justified from all things. And rest assured that the more completely you take the position of a poor sinner, and fix your heart on Christ as He is presented to you in the Scriptures, the more settled will be your peace, the more joyful your experience." — Rev. James I , New York. Inscribed upon the cross wc seo In glowing letters, " God is love ; " lie bears our sins upon tiio tree ; He brings us mercy from above. The cross ! it takes onr guilt away ; It holds the fainting spirit up ; It cheers ^Yith hope the glot)niy day, And sweetens every bitter cup ; — The balm of life, the cure of woe, The measure and the pledge of love. The sinner's refuge here below, The angel's theme in heaven above, A*- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. Vx 1.0 I.I '" 14 25 |||M III 1.8 1.25 1.4 J4 ^ 6" — ► VQ <^ /i 'c^y r ^. /. % > y >^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 87a-4S03 fe o^ ^ 80 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. .n! ! Ill ■ ni I Krishna Pal was the first convert to Cliristianity in India. He wept at hearing of the infinite kindness of God in providing a remedy for the soul. He told the mission- aries that he understood the Gospel to be " that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life up for the salvation of sinners, and that he believed it," and felt " sin to be a dreadful thing." The day of his admittance into the Church he declared, "was full of joy to him ; " that '• he got nothing but joy and comfort ; " and in the spirit of his sister-in- law, Joymooni, who embraced Christianity about the same time, he said, " Oh yes, my mind's book is open, in which I write down everything that I hear about Jesus Christ." About this period he composed a hymn, of which the follow- ing is the last verse — "In faith, on Josus loudly call ; This instrument thy bark sbuU move; Thus let thy vessel floating fall, And swim in boundless seas of love. Then why, my soul, this anxious fear? Suy, why thus sinking in despair? " I i About a year after this event he wrote a letter to the mis- sionary society in England by whom Dr. Carey, Mr. Marshman, and Mr. Ward had been sent out, of which the following is an extract — '* • • • I was the vilest of sinners: He hath saved me. Now this word I will tell to the world. Going forth I will proclaim the love of Christ with rejoicing. To sinners I will say this word : Hear, sinner, brother I without Christ there is no help. Christ, the world to save, save His o\sti soul ! Such love was never heard : for enemies Christ gave His own soul ! Such compassion, where shall we get ? For the sake of saving sinners He forsook the happiness of heaven. I will constantly stay near Him. Being awakened by this news, I will constantly dwell in the town of joy. In THE SiySER ASD HIS SAVIOUR. 81 the Holy Spirit I will live ; yet in Christ's sorrow I will be bonowful. I will (Uvt.Il along with happiness, continually meditating on this — Clirkt will save the world. In Christ, not taking refage, there is no other way of life. I was indeed a sinner, praise not knowing." To a party who «|aeatioDe<l him as to his *' new reli- gion " he said, " I am a great sinner. I tried the Hindoo worship, but got no good. After a while I heard of Christ — that He was incamate, laboured much, and at last laid down his life for sinners. I thought, what love is this ! And here I made my resting-place." The following are extracts from his journal, written about two years before lii» death : — " Shree Krishna Pal humbly writes : Through the grace of God the Father, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, the writer is in a state of health and peace. . . where we put up at the oftice of the tax-gatherer, and proclaimed the glad tidings of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Very many persons heard the word. Here we read the divine word, and prayed in the name of Christ, when all the people of the village abandoned the gods, and cried out, ' Let us break down these places of the gods, that the gods may never come into this place again.' Agreeable to these words they broke down with their feet these places of the gods. . . At the Varoone festival crowds of people assembled ... I replied, * O Brahmin, God hears not the prayers of sinners ; but thej* who through the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ pray, their word He hears. For except the justice and the love of God can embrace each other, sinners cannot be saved ; but in the death of Christ these two are united, on which account God has appointed Jesus Christ to the work of a Saviour. There- fore they who have laid bold of the death of Christ by faith are sav ed. 82 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. On Wednesday, August 21, 1822, he was attacked by fatal cholera. The next day he was told that he could not possibly recover. With respect to his last moments, Mr. (Missionary) Ward thus wrote : ** When asked about his attachment to ChriKt, he said, ' Where can a sinner go, but unto Christ ? ' And when the same question in an- other form was put to him, he said, * Yes, but He loves me more than I love Him.' The same question was put a short time before he expired by one of the missionaries, when he nodded assent, and laid his hand on his heart, but was unable to speak. ** The total absence of the fear of death was most con- spicuous, he positively forbidding them to give him laud- anum, as it would produce insensibility, and put a period to those comforts which he then enjoyed." — Extracts from Memoir pnhlished Inj Am. Bop. Pub. Society. O Thou, my soul, forget no more The FiiiEXD who all thy misery bore ; Let every idol he forgot, But, O my soul, forget HIM not. Infinite truth and mercy shine In Him, and He Himself is thine ; And canst thou then, with sin beset, Such charms, such matchless charms, forget ? Ah ! no — till life itself depart, His name shall cheer and wann my heart ; And, lisi)ing this, from earth I'll rise. And join the chorus of the skies. Ah ! no — when all things else expire, And perish in the general fire, This name all others shall survive, And through eternity shall live. Krishna Pal. *' Just at this point the whole question of Gospel salva- tion opened to my mind in a manner most marvellous to f THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 83 me at the time. I tliink I then saw, as clearly as I ever have in my life, the reality and fulness of the atonement of Christ. I saw that His work was a finished work ; and that instead of having or needing any righteousness of my own to recommend me to God, I had to submit myself to the righteousness of G-^od througli Christ. Gospel salva- tion seemed to me to be an offer of something to be accepted ; and that it was full and complete ; and that all that was necessary on my part, was to get my own con- sent to give up my sins and accept Christ. Salvation, it seemed to me, instead of being a thing to be wrought out by my own works, was a thing to be found entirely in the Lord Jesus Christ, who presented Himself before me as my God and my Saviour. . . The question seemed to be put to me, * Will you accept it now, to-day ? ' I replied, * Yes ; I will accept it to-day, or I will die in the attempt.' ... I felt that I must be alone in the woods, so that I could pour out my prayer to God."- -Ex-tracts from Memoir of Itev. Chas. G. Finufij. ** Faith," says an old writer, ** will be staggered even by loose stones in the way if we look man-ward ; if we look God-ward, faith will not be staggered with inaccessible mountains stretching across and obstructing apparently our onward progress. ' Go forwardi ' is the voice of heaven ; and faith, obeying, finds the mountains before it as fiat as plains." My faith looks up to thoe, Thou Lamh of Calvaiy, Saviour divine ; Now hear me while I pray ; Take all my guilt away ; Oh, let me, from this day. Be wholly Thino. 84 THE SISSER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER XV. (( 3! Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. Now I saw in my dream that the highway, up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation. Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without difficulty, because of the load on his back. " He ran thus till he came to a place somewhat ascend- ing, and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christi.in came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. ** Then Christian was glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, *Hc hath given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death.' Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder, for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the water down his cheeks. Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold, three shining ones came to him, and saluted him with, ' Peace be to thee.' So the first said to him, • Thy sins be forgiven thee ; ' the second stripped him of his rags, set a mark on his fore- head, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it at THE SISXEIi AXD HIS SAVIOUR. 8ff the Celestial Gate : so they went their way. Then Chris- tian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing, ' Blest cross ! blest sopnlclire ! blest rather be The man that there was put to shame for me.' w to p' *' Now I saw in my dream that they came on, and Great-heart hcfore them. So they went, and came to the place where Christian's burden fell off his back, and tumbled into a sepulchre. Here then they made a pause, and here also they blessed God. Now, said Christiana, it comes to my mind what was said to us at the gate, to wit, that we should have pardon by word and deed ; by word, that is to say, by the promise ; by deed, to wit, in the way it was obtained. What the promise is, of that I know something ; but what it is to have pardon by deed, or in the way that it was obtained, Mr. Great-heart, I sup- pose you knov,' ; whereof, if you please, let us hear you discourse thereof. ifn •^- >'fi •■'.'• ■■:■■ * ** The righteousness of His Godhead gives virtue to His obedience ; the righteousness of His manhood giveth capability to His obedience to justify ; and the righteous- ness tliat standeth in the union of these two natures to His office, giveth authority to that righteousness to do the work for which it was ordained. So then, hero is a right- eousness that Christ, as God, has no need of; for He is God without it. Here is a righteousness that Christ, as man, has no need of to make Him so, for He is perfect man without it. Again, there is a righteousness that Christ, as God-man, has no need of, for Ho is perfectly so without it. Here, then, is a righteousness that Christ, as God, and as God-man, has no need of with reference to Himself, and therefore He can spare it ; a justifying righteousness, that He for Himself wantetli not, and 4 ■HSS 86 THE SINNER AND II I H SAVIOUR. i. I • ill :i: i) therefore givetb it away. Hence it is called ' the gift of righteousness.' This righteousness, since Christ Jesus the Lord has made Himself under the law, must he given away." — Extracts/ram each part of the VihjnuCs I'rvtjiess. Mourner, whercso'er thou art, At the cross there's room ! Tell the hurdeu of thy heart ; At the cross there's room ! Tell it in thy Saviour's ear, Cast away thine every fear, Only speak, and He will hear : At the cross there's room ! Haste thee, wanderer, tarry not ; At the cross there's room I Seek that consecrated sjwt ; At the cross there's room I Thoughtless sinner, come to-day ; At the cross there's room ! Hark ! the Bride and Spirit say — At the cross there's room I Now a living Fountain see. Opened there for you and me. Rich and poor, bond and free ! At the cross there's room ! Blessed thought ! for every one At the cross there's room ! Love's atoning work is done ; At the cross there's room ! Streams of boundless mercy flow. Free to all who thither go ; Oh that all the world might know At the cross there's room I t( A young man, the eldest son of a highly respectable family in New Orleans, U.S., when on his death-bed called his father to him and said, ' Well, father, I have one, and but one favour to asii you ; will you grant it ? ' m THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR, 87 *I will, my son, if it is possible ; ask me aiiytliiug I can do, it shall be done.' ' Father, I waut you to kneel down by my bedside, and pray for me.' * I cannot, my son, I cannot.' * Do, father, pray for me ! You never prayed for me ; pray for me while I can yet hear ! ' 'I cannot, my son, oh, I cannot.' * Dear father, you never taught me to pray to the Lord Jesus, and now I die ; you never prayed for me — this once ! Oh ! do not let me die without my father's prayers.' In an agony of weeping the father rushed out of the room.' — (.'lusiiKj Scenes. Aineyican Hap. I'nhli^hiiii/ docietj. When thy mortal life is fled, When tlio dcath-sliuilos u"cr thee spread, WLou is iinisluHl tliy cai'cer, Sinner, wiieru wilt thou appoiir ? "When the world ha.s pa.sseil away, When draws lu'ar the judgiiuiiit-dny, When the awful trump shall sound, Say, ob, v/hcre wilt thou be found 'i When the Judge descends in light, Clothed in majesty and mif,'ht ; When the wicked quail with fear, Where, ob where, wilt thou appear? What .shall soothe thy bursting heart, When the saints and thou must part 1 When the good with joy are crowned, Sinner, where wilt thou be found ? " I groped in darkness for long, unhappy years, until the Lord Himself spoke to me in the Scripture in these words, 'He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' Now, I reasoned, if you are directed to seek for anything, it is implied that you do not know where it is. My heavenly Father is wiser than all the preachers ; He has compassion upon my blindness and ignorance, and i 88 THE SINNER ANT) HIS SAVIOUR. ill m recognizing them both, He still invites me to a quest •which He promises shall be succcBsful. I also discovered through the same precious verse, my mistalce in regard to the nature of religion. I had been trying to obtain a certain something which should be to me salvation and safety. I now be^an to desire not so much to find religion, as to find Him ; and His condescension in guiding me to the first step of the way awakened a tender longing for His perpetual friendship. It was thus that I started on the way to the celestial city." — llUistmted Christicin Weekly. American Tract Sorieti/. "At this time the ivaij of salvatiun opened to mo with such infinite wisdom, suitableness, and excellency, tliat I wondered I should ever think of any other way of salvation ; I was amazed that I had not dropped my own contrivances and complied with this lovely, blessed, and excellent way before. If I could have been saved by my own duties, or any other way that I had formerly contrived, my whole soul would now have refused. I wondered that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the rifjiiteousness of Christ." — Itei'. D. Brainenl. i A long time I wamlorod in darknoss and sin, And wondered if ever the light would shine in ; I heard Christian friends speak of raptures divine, And I wished — how I u-'mhcd — that their Saviour were mine, I heard the glad gospel of " good will to men ; " I read " wiiosokvkb" again and again ; I said to my soul, *' Can that promise he thine ? " And thou began hoi)in(j that Jesus was mine. Oh, mercy surjirising ! He saves even me ! " Thy portion for ever," He says, " will I he ; " Ou His word I am resting — assurance divine — rm, " hoping " no longer— I know He is mine. THE SLWKR ASI> HIS SAVIOVU. 89 CHAPTER XVI. " ' Beliemi: on the Loril Jcsuh Clirist, and thou shall bo saved,' and that command is addressed to you to-night. Trust Christ, and you \Yill be saved. I toll you, sirs, I will be responsible if I preach not the truth — at the judg- ment day I will bear the responsibility if this be not the way of salvation. If this is not the gospel, I am not saved. If the devil tells you you .ire not a sensible sinner, say, * I am a stupid sinner ; ' if he says you are ' not alive,' tell him you are ' dead ; ' but tell him you are obliged to say, * Dead or alive, to His cross I cling.' If you cannot find any qualification, you can still lay hold of His cross — sink or swim. I know no other hope, and I had no other qualification. I sighed and gi'oaned for five long years ; and when I came to Clirist, I was obliged to leave all behind me ; and if I had come with a sense of need, I am sure I should never have come at all. I came just as I was — believing He was able and willing to save me. I cast myself on Him. " But still says one, ' If I were to trust myself on Christ, and yet I was to be lost.' Sir ! it never will be ! I will make my bed in hell, side by side with you — I will bear with you the everlasting pangs of the eternal fires, and you shall taunt me as a deceiver, and mock me as a liar, throughout eternity, if ever you perish trusting in Christ. You will be the first. You will be the only instance. I say, heaven may sooner reel, and be changed, and angels lose their thrones, than ever one trusting in Clnist should perish ! DO THE SINSEJt AND JUS SAVKtUll. I' t ! I •' 'But I fim not tlio rij^'lit man ' — Inu you aro the rif,'lit man. * But I am not quiililkul ' — but you aro qualified. If you think you aro, then you are not. If you tliink, ' There is an invitation : I am tlio character ' — probahly you aro not therein described — for generally those who aro described in the invitations tliink they are not. " 'Well,' says one, 'there is the invitation, "Come unto mo all ye that are weary and heavy laden." ' Yes ; that is directed to the ' weary and heavy laden ; ' but there aro tens of thousands that arc ' heavy laden ' that are ad- dressed like this, ' Whosoever will let him come ' — that is commandment." — Ucv. C. IL Sjiurueoii's Seryiiuiis. Faith is a very slender thing, Tlj(ni{,'h little uuderstKotl ; It frees the soiil from death's dread sting, By resting in the Illood. It looks not on the things fironnd, Nor on the things within : It takes its flight to scenes above, Beyond the spheres of sin. It sees upon the throne of God A Victim that was slain ; It rests its all on T^'s shed blood. And says, " I'm born again." Fuitli is not what we feel or sec ; It is a simple tru>it In what the God of love has said Of Jesus as " the Just." The Perfect One that died for mo, Upon His Father's throne Presents our names before our God, And pleads Himself alone. " It was in such words as the following that he gave expression to the feelings that possessed him : " * I have sincerely committed my soul into the hands THE SISWEJi A SI) lll>j SAl'lOUJi. 01 of Clirist, and Ho has nccoptcd, I believe, the surroiuler. . . . This world is iiothiug to mc. I beliuvo I inn pre- pared ; and if there bo a preference, it is rather that I should die ; that seems strong language, but it is tin- Irittli ; I should prefer it.' '* lie was often heard whispering, 'Jesus — the Mfdiator — of tJie Hiiv covenant.' " After ho retired to rest, ho slept for a few hours ; when he awoke ho said, * 1 have trusted m llou; I nill trust llim to the last.' In a little time, with a .^erene smile upon his pallid countenance, he expressrv'' the highest- delight an 1 confidence in God. • Never, never, can I praise Thee huHi- liently, God, for this great, this Lily joy ! None can know, none conceive, the happineKs I possess, the poaco with which my soul is filled, but the sincere disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, lledermer of manknid, givo mo strength to bear even joy ! this joy ! ' He rested for a few moments, and then added in a lower tone : * One would almost think this the language of enthusiusm, but it is not, it is solid and genuine.' He then uttered other expressions similar to the last. I said, ' This is almost too much for the body!' 'Not too much, but enough, just enough, and yet it is but a mere glimpse ! Oh, is there no outlet, no passage, to that perfection before me ? or is this, this the happ)y time ? "Within a few hours am I to be per- mitted to flee fi'om this turbulent world ? ' Exhausted nature now fell asleep ; then, shortly after, awaking with great composure and with a smiling look, he took his last look and leave of those dearest to him on earth. * I com- mend you to God, th" Judge of all, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant.' After an ineffectual effort to lay his head upon his pillow, it reposed upon the arm of his friend ; one short struggle, and all was over." — The Dying Testlmonij of Stephen Morell, oj Paddow, in Essex ^ I WM 1^1 ! ^^Ba i 4 ^Hi 0-2 27/E SINXER AND HIS SAVIOUR. HI KmihduL Extracted from •' Christian Sunsets," by Rev. ^H 1 ' James Fleming, D.D. ^H '1 ^H t ^^^^H ^^^B ^ i; IIow firm a foundation, yo saints of the Lord, ^H '^ n Is laid for your faith in His oxeollont word I ^^^^^B ; What more can lie say than to you Ho hath said, ^^B 'i ' You who unto Jesus for refuge have fl(!d ? H 1 i ■ ii In every condition— in sickness and health, ^^Hji ii In ])overty's vale, or ahoundinj^ in wealth, ^^H fi r At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea. ^■1 ii As thy day may demand, shall thy strength ever be. (i E'en down to old ago, all my people shall prove ^^^^H 1 r My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love : ^HJj ; And when hoaiy hairs shall their temples adorn. ^^^^^ri Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne. ^^^^^hI -; i The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not, desert to its foes ; ^^■1 1 f 1 That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shako, mt/ •M I'll never, no ne\ er, no never, forsake ! ^^^^^Bs^ ** There is no other name, no other nature, no other BJi ! blood, no other merits, no other i^erson to be justified and HU; ! j saved by, but Jesus Christ. All the tears in the world ; ': cannot wash off one sin, nor can all the grace and holiness that is in angels and men combined purchase the pardon ^B ' of the least transgression. All remission is only by the ^K r< blood of Jesus Christ. There is no way under heaven to ^H ' i be interested in Christ, hu,t hi/ heUei'ing. He that hdlevcth ^^^Hi ' ; -i shall he. SAVED, let his sins be ever so great, and he that ^B : ! ■ : . . helievcth not shall he damned, let his sins bo ever so little." ^B ' ^ 'j —3Vtowu/s J?m»/.s(" Smooth Stones"). * | ^^^^K ^^^^H'- " The love of Christ has a height without a top, a depth without a bottom, a length without an end, and a breadth II without a limit. (Eph. iii. 18, 19.) THE SINXEK ASD HIS SAVIOVU. 93 *' Christ's sorrows, griefs, tuul sufferings can be ptirallelcd with nothing but His love." — Ucv. John Mason, M.A. (1094). "A refusal of Christ is a much easier, and yet a much more terrible thing than most men suppose. A neglect to hear Him is a refusal of Him. Christ calls us every day and every moment ; and when Ho calls, we either accept or reject Him. There is no possible way of escape. There is no neutral ground. Our lives are a continual accepta- tion or rejection of Him. "When Christ calls us to be His disciples, we reach a wonderful crisis in our lives. Eternal life or eternal death is suspended on our decision. The question is continually before us, and tin answer must be had. It is imperative. A neglect or a failure to decide in the affirmative necessitates a decision in the negative." — Northern Christum Advocate. jadtli Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain, Could give the guilty couscieuce peace, Or wash away the stain. But Christ, the heavenly Lamb, Takes all our sins away ; A sacrifice of nobler naii:?. And richer blood than they. My faith would lay her hand On that dear head of Thine, While like a penitent I stand, And there confess my eiu. My soul looks back to si c The burdens Thou didst bear, When hanging on the cursed tree, And hopes her guilt was there. Believing, we rejoice To see the curse remove ; We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice, And sing His bleeding love. _^||)L T m i 1 r = :| 1 ,'iij M i! 4 1 ii i M i' 1 t ( !! 1 'V- liili ' i 1'' j 94 r/f£ SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER XVII. " Where then must a man go for pardon ? Where is forgiveness to be found ? Listen, reader, and by God's help I will tell you. There is a woy both sure and plain, and into that way I desire to guide every inquirer's feet. " That way is, simply to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. It is to cast your soul, with all its sins, unreservedly on Christ ; to cease completely from any dependence on your own works and doings, either in whole or in part ; and to rest on no other work but Christ's work, no other righteousness but Christ's righteousness, no other merit but Christ's merit, as your ground of hope. Take this course, and you are a pardoned soul. ' To Christ,' says Peter, * give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remis- sion of sins ' (Acts v. 43). * Through this man,' said Paul at Autioch, * is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all tilings ' (Acts xiii. 88). In Him, writes Paul to the Colos- sians, ' we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins' (Col. i. 14). " The Lord Jesus Christ, in great love and compassion, has made a full and complete satisfaction for sin by His own death upon the cross. There He ofiFered Himself as a sacrifice for us, and allowed the wrath of God, which we deserved, to fall on His own head. For our sins He gave Himself, suffered, and died — the just for the unjust, the innocent for the guilty — that He might deliver us from the curse of a broken law, and provide a complete pardon for w THE SiySEn AND HIS SAVIOUR. 95 all who are -willing to receive it. And by so doing, as Isaiah says, He has Ao'-w^ our sins ; as John the Baptist says, He has taken airay sin ; as Paul says, He has pureed our sins, and put atray sin ; and as Daniel says. He has wdde an end of sins and fi»ij<Jud transgrespion. Isa. liii. 11 ; John i. 29; Heb. i. 3 ; ix. 26 ; Dan. ix. 24. ** Remember chat heiiven is before you, and Christ the only door into it ; hell beneath you, and Christ alone able to deliver you from it ; the devil behind you, and Christ the only refuge from his wrath and accusations ; the law against you, and Christ alone able to redeem you ; sin weighing you down, and Christ alone able to put it away. This is the doctrine of the Bible." — Rev. J. C. liyli.', Helmintjham, Emjlmul. ion, His If as we rave the the for I am cv ming to the cross, I am i'«<T. and weak, and blind ; I am c«anlirig all but dross, I shall foil salyation find. I am trnstinp, Lord, in Thee, Dear Lamb of Calvary ; Homblj at Thy cross I bow : Save me. Jesus, save me now 1 Long my heart has sighed for Thee, Long La* evil raved within ; Jesus suc^tly ppeaks to me, " I will Cleanse you from all sin." Here I give my all to Thee — Friend?, and time, and earthly store, Soul and bwdy — Thine to be — Whollr Thine — for evermore. In the promises I trust, Now I ftfl the blood applied ; I am prostrate in the dust, I with Christ am crucified. 9G THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Jesus comes ! He fills my soul 1 Perfected in love I am ; I am every whit made whole Glory, glory to the Lamb. : I " But at length, after coutiimiug in this state of distress and despondency full seven years, lie obtained relief by a believing view of the gospel method of salvation. This he had never heard stated by another, but one day, resolving to look once more into the Bible — possibly it might discover to him a door of hope — he cast his eye on Gal. iv. 4,5:' Crod sent forth his Son, made of a uoman^ MAOE UNDER THE LAW, tO REDEEM THEM that WERE UNDER THE LAW,' ifcc. Immediately a new train of thought struck his mind, * Christ ivas made vnd(ir the law — then he was not under it originally. For what end was He made under the law ? — to redeem them that were under the law — were under the law ! Then then are not under the laiv now, but redeemed. There is, therefore, a way of redem^Dtion for sinners from the curse of the law, by which it is possible even I may be saved ! ' Being thus enlightened to see that God could save him if He pleased, without debasing His own per- fections, the bare possibility of salvation, in a way con- sistent with the divine glory, made his heart glad indeed. He now began to search the Scriptures for further dis- coveries of this glorious Gospel ; and having once got hold of the right clue, he read them as it were with new eyes. The difficulty was now solved which had once tempted him to burn the Bible ; he understood how God could for- give sin, and yet not clear the (jidltij. Soon after this, his own salvation began to appear not only possible, but probable, and at length certain." — Extract from, the Life of Robert Hall. Am. Bap. Pub. Society. So far as we know, all evangelical Christians agree in (( THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 97 believing that all, in one sense, are children of God. This is assumed in the invitation, * Son, give me thy heart.' All sin consists in rejecting this relationship, and wander- ing off from God, as the prodigal son wandered off from the father. The only remedy is just to assume the relationship and begin to live as a son in the Father's house. If you are willing to accept Him as your Father, with all which that implies — allegiance, obedience, service, doing your Father's will, not your own— He is ready to accept you as His son. All you have to do is just to assume that the promises were made for you, and, with this belief, to go right on and live as one ought to live with such hope and faith, asking help from Him, and when you fall, beginning right over again. This taking Christ at His word is ' accepting Christ.'"— r/ie Christian Weekly, March 1th, 1876. I hear the Saviour say, Thy strength indeed is small, Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in me thy all in all. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe ; Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. I Lord, now indeed I find Thy blood, and Thine alone, Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone. 8 r IS- At f . ' ii: m '■■ ¥ ' •' I ' 1 ■ m !' i. L 98 THE SIXXER ASD HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER XVIII. *' I MERELY wisli to Say that when men toll you to do any- thiiuj to be saved they are preaching the law and not the Gospel. You have only to believe ; and believing is not doing ; it is the opposite of doing ; it is simply receiving and resting on the finished work of Christ which is already done, and done more than eighteen hundred years ago. The sin-hating God met the sin-bearing Jesus at the place of a skull, and there once and for ever settled the question of the believer's salvation, and we had nothing to do with it. Now the glad tidings are sent forth to the ends of the earth : * Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could rot be justified by the law of Moses.' * The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' The law says, ' Do and be saved ; ' grace says, * Believe and be saved.' The law says, ' Do and live ; ' grace says, ' Live and do.' The law says, * The soul that sinueth it shall die;' grace says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit ; I have found a ransom.' The law says, ' Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them ; ' grace says_, ' Christ hath redeemed us (believers) from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.* When I affirm, then, that the threatened penalty of God's law against sin fell upon Christ, I wish to be understood as asserting +,hat IIo endured precisely the kind and degree of i3uflering or punishment which the law demanded on THE SISNER AXD HIS SAVIOUR. account of sin, as necessary to procure the complete deliverance and entire redemption of all who believe in Him. He endured the penalty in the fullest and truest sense, because penalty is what the law exacts in order to vindicate its insulted majesty and meet its righteous claims ; and this is what Christ did when He suffered on the cross." — Extracts from •' The Wny made riaiu," bij the Fu'v. James II. Brooks, D.D. Looking only to Jepus, the Cnicified One, Wlio invites all that niouru, Will you come, will you come ? I have left all my sins at the foot of the cross ;' Sinful pleasures arc now to my taste hut as dross, Jesus died ! Sound the tidings forth ! Jesus saves ! Shout the victory ! Oh, how oft have I heard of the Saviour who died. That my fears might he quelled, and my tears all be dried ; But alas ! my proud heart was too stubborn to yield To His kind invitation, to come and be healed. But at length God in mercy has led mo to see, That if I .vould find safety, to Chnst I must flee ; The avenger of blood I have seen on my track ; But with Jesus my refuge, I'll never turn back. " To a friend who frequently visited him, he said, '1 wish to be under no mistake or delusion in a matter of so much importance as the salvation of my immortal so'il. Tell me where you think I am defective in my views, or wanting in the experience of their power. Deal faithfully with me, do not deceive me ; and pray for me, above all, that I may not deceive myself.' *' To the writer, a fortnight before his death, he ex- pressed himself as follows : ' I trust I have the Christian's hope, but I want more of it. I want more of that hunger- ing and thirsting after righteousness which the Saviour ' J 100 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 1 A ;'il' ; i! has promised to satisfy — which we ought to have at all times ; but which, if we have not in death, what is our hope, and how can we hope, and how can we be prepared to die ? ' *' The last visit was still more affecting : it was only two days before his end. He was sitting in an arm-chair, Buiiported with cushions, and seemed to be in a very exhausted state. His father sat opposite to him, in whose countenance was depicted the struggle of nature and of grace ; — of nature, for he was about to lose his child, — of grace, for that child was now on the very threshold of glory. In another part of the room were three or four of his brothers and sisters, some of them in tears. • Speak to this dear boy,' said the father, addressing himself to me, ' and question him about his hopes.' "I sat down at his side, and taking him by the hand, said, * Can you, my dear boy, pass through the valley of the shadow of death, and say with David, "I fear no evil ?"' * Yes, I trust so.' * What is the ground of your trust ? ' 'It is, because his ** rod and his staff, they com- fort me.'" 'Have you any doubts to be removed?' *I had many misgivings, but God has mercifully taken them all away.' ' Do you love Him ? ' * I hope I do, but I wish I loved Him more.' * You have been long ill, do you feel weary of sickness ?' • I feel more weary of sin, and long for that time when it will be laid aside for ever.' * Does the hope of heaven animate and support you ; and is it often the subject of your meditations ? ' ' Yes, I have been thinking of it with great delight this very morning, and almost seem to have entered within its blest abodes.' " I then read to him that beautiful chapter in the Revelation (the twenty-second) descriptive of a state of blessedness. His attention was peculiarly arrested. After I had finished, * This happiness,' I said, * will soon be 'f THE SINXER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 101 yours, and the portiou of all who die in the Lord.' Then, gathering his brothers and sisters around us, I requested him to bear his dying testimony to the value of the Gospel in this trying hour, which he did most afifectionately to all." Thus died Wilbcrforce Richmond, a son of the author of the "Dairyman's Daughter," January 10th, 1825. happy day, that fixed my choice On Thee my Saviour aud my God J Well may this glowing heart rejoice. And tell its raptures all abroad. happy bond, that scalu my vows To llim who merits all my love ! Let cheerful anthems fill His house, While to that sacred shririo I move. 'Tis done — the great transaction's done, I am my Lord's, and lie is mme ; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine. Now rest, my long-divided heart. Fixed on this blissful centre, rest; Nor ever from thy Lord depart, With Him, of every good possessed. High heaven, that heard the solemn vow That vow renewed shall daily hear ; Till in life's latest hour I bow, And bless, in death, a bond so dear. '* Nothing grieves Christ more than to have His love slighted ; nothing pleases Him more than to have it accepted. «* The love of Christ is stronger than death, sweeter than life, and better than wine. "Every new sense of Chi'ist's love adds new degrees to ours." — Rev. John Mason, M.A. ii \\ >4 L. I) > 102 TJ/E SIXXER AXD II IS SAVIOVIi. ti It is not the gnantitij of thy faith that shall save thee. A drop of water is as truly water as the whole ocean ; a child of a month old is as really a man as one of sixty years ; a spark of fire is as true fire as a great flame. So it is not the measure of thy faith that saves thee — it is tlw blood that it (jriiis that mirs thee. If thou canst grip Christ ever so weakly, He will not let thee perish." — Bihlivul MuHcum. '* Whenever I now have occasion (as I often do) to con- verso with persons in this state of mind, I do not argue much with them. I set before them the love of God in Christ, the fulness and frceness of the offer of salvation, and the sincerity of God in revealing it to us, and I urge them at once to submit themselves to God ; not merely to he u'UUiuj to do this, but to do it. If they will do this, I know that God will accept them, and that the evidence that He has done so will soon be manifest." — liev. Francia Wm/lavd, D.D. *' Take, then, this Bible, and turn to 1 John v. 9-12. May I ask you to read this x)aBsage aloud, verse by verse ? In order to believe, you want to know how you are to believe ; whom you are to believe ; iih((t you are to believe; ivhe7i you are to believe ; what is the sin of not believing ; and what you ai'e to get hi/ believing. Perhaps in these verses, of all others in the Bible, this all-important subject of faith is stated in terms the most simple and unmistak- able." — Eev. Goovije Dtijjield, jun. I leave it all with Jesus day by day ; Faith cau firmly trust Him, come what may, Hope has dropped her anchor, found her rest, In the calm sure haven of His breast : Love esteems it heaven to abide At His side. • Till': siss'ER Asn HIS sAviorn. 103 a y o it CHArXER XIX. " Too often awalvcncd souls, tliout^li tlioy may have heard the Gospel, do not iu their hearts understand it. Many inquirers do not know wiuit faith is. I am per- suaded millions of our fellow countrymen do not know what helievinc^ in Jesus means. Thouj^h every Sahhath- day they are told, yet do they not catch the thought, for the Spirit of God has not illuminated their minds. To believe in Jesus, as we say again, and again, and again, is simply to trust in Jesus— to take God at His word, to take Christ for what God says He is, namely, the atone- ment, the satisfaction for sin, the Saviour of sinners. But poor, troubled consciences think faith is a deep mystery, and they go about like blind men groping for the wall ; they wander like travellers in a dense fog, not knowing which way leads to their homes ; hoping, but hoping against hope, by reason of ignorance. Many, though desirous to be saved, do not understand the work of Christ, or know what atonement is. Though the doctrine of substitution, which is the very marrow of the Gospel, is to believers so very plain, yet many seekers have not learned it. That Jesus bore the sin of His people ; that ' the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of ns all ; ' that He was made a sin for us ; that justice received its due at His hands ; this precious fact many penitent sinners have not grasped. They still think there is so much repentance to do, so much feeling to endure, so much praying to go through, so much mystery to be experienced; but the plain, simple precept, 'Believe and I -w 104 THE SISNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. i pi !t; live,' trust unci bo ticccptctl, hide untlor the shadow of the cross and bo safe ; this, through ij,'norancc, tliey do not understand, and this involves them in trouble upon trouble, till their way is hedged up with thorns. '* Yet in the state of 'seeking for Jesus' t/icir is nntch thdt is (h)uhtful ; for, my brethen, the seeker after Christ remains disobedient to the great command of the Gospel. If he were obedient to the great Gospel precept, he would at once cease to be a seeker, and become a hai)py finder. What is the command of the Gospel ? * Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' Properly speaking, Christ is not an object for seeking. He is not far from any of us ; like the brazen serpent uplifted by Moses, He is not so much to be looked for as looked at. We have neither to clamber to heaven to find Him in the loftiness of His deity, and bring Him down ; nor dive into the chambers of Hades, to bring Him up again from the dead. Thus saith the Lord, ' The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart : that is, the word of faith, which we preach ; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.' Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. A prayer ■will reach Him, a wish will find Him, a groan will pierce His heart — do but confide in Him, and He is yours. The first command of the Gospel to guilty sinners is not to pray, to search the Scriptures, to attend upon sermons — all these are natural duties, and woe unto the man who neglects any of them ; but the command, the special com- mand of the Gospel is, ' Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ I ' Now, the seeking sinner is disobedient to the command. He is going about hither and thither seeking, but he declines trusting ; he is eagerly looking abroad for that which is at home ; he is seeking for peace afar off when it THE SIXSER ASD HIS SAnoUIi. 105 is nigh him. He looks cast aiul west to bchokl u wondor, "while the AVoiiclirt'ul, the Saviour, staiuls at his right hand ready to forgive. The way of salvation for mo as a sinner is simply this, that I, beii.g n sinner, do now put my trust in Christ Jesus, the substitute for sinners. God has set forth llis cruciiied Son as the accepted proiiitiation for sin : the way of salvation is that I accept Him for "what God has set Him forth, namely, as the atonement for my sin, in which I place my sole reliance. Seeing He is God, seeing He took upon Himself the nature of man, seeing that as mediator He sullered in the stead of as many as trust in Him, I trust Him, and I obtain thereby the blessed result of His sulVerings — I am in fact thereby saved. Now, it is some good thing certainly to be a seeker, but it is also an ill thing if I follow my seeking and refuse God's way of salvation." — Ilec. C. II. Spnnjinnn Seniions. Behold the Saviour at the door, He gently knocks — has knocked hcfore, Has waited long, is waiting still, Yoa use no other friend so ill. Open the door, He'll enter in, And sup icith you, and you icitli II hn. Oh, lovely attitude I He stands "With open heart and outstretched hands ; Oh, matchless kindness ! and Ho shows His matchless kindness to His foes. Open the door. He'll enter in. And xup icith you, and you with Him, Admit Him, ere His anger burn, L«st He dei)art and ne'er return ; Admit Him, or the hour's at hand When at His door denied you'll stand. Open the door. He'll enter in, And sup with you, and you with Him. mm lOG THE ^TXXER AXD 11 U SAVIOJ'R. i |! En ' ii I ' .1! ■ Admit Him, for the linman breast Ne'er entertained so kind a guest ; No mortal tongue their joys can tell, With whom He condescends to dwell. Oj}fn the doc; He'll enter in, And suj) icitJi you, and yon with Hint. ..." I continued to read, and "wlienevcr I could stCcal away unobserved into the garret, there I walked the floor, when all around were hushed in sleep ; there I prayed and poured out tears of bitter sorrow. While thus engaged one night, the plan of salvation was revealed to me in the figure of Noah's ark. I saw an ungodly race swept away with the flood, but Noah and his family were saved, for God shut them in the ark. I felt that as a sinner I was condemned and justly exposed to immediate and everlast- ing destruction. I saw distinctl}^ that in Christ alone I must be saved, if saved at all ; and the view 1 at that moment had of God's method of saving sinners, I do still most heartily entertain, after thirty years' experience of His love. This was Saturday night, and that night I slept more sweetly than I had done for many weeks. Before daylight on Lord's day morning I awoke, and went downstairs quietl)', made a fire in the front parlour, and threw open the window-shutters, and as soon as I could see, commenced reading the New Testament. I opened at the 13th chapter of John, and came to where Peter said, * Thou shalt never wash my feet ; ' Jesus answered him, * If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.' Simon Peter saith to Him, * Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.' At that moment my heart seemed to molt. I felt as if plunged into a bath of blood divine — I was cleansed from head to foot — guilt and the apprehension of punishment were both put away ; tears of gratitude gushed from my eyes in copious streams ; the THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOm. 107 fire in the grate shone on the paper upon the wall, and the room was full of light ; I fell upon the hearth-rug, on my face, at the feet of Jesus, and wept and gave thanks ; my sins, which were many, were all forgiven, and a peace of mind succeeded which passeth understanding. Bless the Lord, O my soul ! from that hour to the present, a doubt of my calling and election, of God has never crossed my mind. With ail my imperfections, shortcomings, and backsliding of heart, I have from that hour steadfastly believed that ' neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, &c.' " — Extract from the Life of the Bev. SpejKer H. Cone. PiiJtUfihrd bi/ Shehlun Blakeman, .V. V. Have yon on the Lord believed ? Still there's more to follow ; Of Ilis giace have you received ? Still there's more to follow ; Oh, the grace the Father shows ! Still there's more to follow ! Freely H(! His grace bestows, Still there's more to follow. More and more, more and more, Always more to follow ; Oh, His matchless, boundless love ! Siill tLorc's more to follow. Have you f(dt the Saviour near ? Does His blessed presence cheer ? Oh, the love that Jesus shows ! Freely He Hi -^ love bestows ! Have you felt the Spirit's p»ower, Falling like the gentle shower? Oh, the power the Spirit shows I Freely He His power bestows ! *' One great reason why many are kept from accepting salvation by faith in Chri;-;* is preconceived and erroneous I 108 THE SINNER AND II IS SAVIOUn. I vl m ■ ' '■ i' Ift i 1 '^:^{l opinions as to what religion is. They have aiTanged in their minds what they must do, and how they must feel, if they ever become Christians. They have marked out the process of their own minds through which they sup- pose they must go — a process composed of weeks or months of gloom and terror of soul, of bitter tears and agonizing prayers, followed by a sudden gush of joy ; the whole j)rocess being as distinctly marked as the various stages of an intermittent fever. . . . Tell them that all this attempt to change God, and make themselves more acceptable to Him, by effort of their own, is not only foolish- ness, but wickedness." — " The WorliVs Hope," by tlie liev. Ituhert Boyd, D.D. I ii s ■-. (ti ; II Now is til' accepted time ; Now is the Jay of grace ; Now, sinners, come, without delay, And seek the Saviour's face. Now is til' aecei^tcd time ; The Savicar calls to-day ; To-morrow it may be too late ; Then why should you delay ? Now is th' accepted time ; The Gospel bids you come, And every promise in His word Beclar-ib there yet is room. Lord, draw reluctant souls, And feast them with Thy love ; Then will the augcls swiftly fly To bear the news above. THE SIS'SER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 109 CHAPTER XX. *♦ What is your "dew of the spirit in which seekers shoultl approach this subject ? Surely not in the spirit of one \fho demanila salvation as a right. Not in the spirit of the fault-finder. We should not approach God in ;lie temper of one who thinks it hard that he does not at once receive joy and peace as soon as he asks to be saved. Salvation is an infinite favour, and favours, of necessity, must be undeserved, and may be shown when and how the giver pleases. ... A Christian believes the death of Julius CfBsar just as he beUeves the death of Christ, but the two truths have a widely different effect upon men; not because the mental process is different in their reception, but because the truths are not of the same nature, nor do they bear the same relation to us. The intellect chiefly is in- terested in the death of the Eoman general, but the intel- lect and the itfetuumx are both interested in the death of Christ. We believe the facts stated about Christ — the testimonv which God has given of His Son — and our hearts cling to, our affections embrace, that Son with a living, loving tenacity. This is sacintf fnith — giving simple cre- dence to what G«>i has said about Christ, and clinging to Him as our Saviour. But you ask, how are a man's affec- tions made to embrace Christ ? I answer, love is awakened by a loveable object. I would call to mind the loveHncss of Christ, who ' so loved us ' as to lay down His life for us. There is no other way." — Rev. 11. A. Fyfer- * Since the manascript of this work was in the hands of the printer Dr. Fyfe has departed this hfe. He died at Woodstock, Ontario, . i i- ; I M, ::;|i i'lil . > iR 110 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Plunged in a gulf of dark dcs2)air, We wretched sinners lay, Without one cheerful hcam of hope, Or spark of glimmering day. With pitying eyes the Prince of grace Beheld our helpless grief ; He saw, and, — oh, amazing love! — He flew to our relief. Down from the shining seats above. With joyful haste He fled. Entered the grave in mortal flesh, And dwelt among the dead. Oh, for this love, let rocks and hills Their lasting silence break, And all harmonious human tongues The Saviour's praises speak. Angela, assist our mighty joys ; Strike all your harps of gold ; But when you raise your highest notes, His love can ne'er be told. " "When lie -was so feeble as to be unable to speak without extreme difficulty, he frequently repeated, and with visible emotions of pleasure, the words of the Psalmist : 'Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.' "On another occasion, when his friends thought he was dying, he remarked to one who had been called to witness his departure, * my brother, I am glad to have an opportunity to express to you, that you may tell the dear Church, that the doctrine of the Deity of Jesus Christ is September 4th, 1878. " His dear wife said to him, when his mind was just fading away, ' Do you know me? Do you know your wife Ecbecca?' ' No ! ' he said, 'I don't know her.' Then she said, 'Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ ? ' '0 yes ! I know Him well ; ' and these were nearly his last words." — The Christian Helper. THE SIS S Ell AND HIS SAVIOIR. ni my support ; it is the rock on Avliicli my soul rests in the last hour.' ' You still hold to that doctrine, then, sir.' ' Ah ! ' answered he, ' that holds me, or I should sink.' He clasped the hand of his child, and said, ' my child, weep not for me ! Are you not willing I should go to my God, to be like my Saviour ? ' When his soul was too active for his diseased frame, and he was was iucapahle of giving a distinct and unbroken utterance of his sure and certain hope of a resurrection unto eternal life, he quoted, after repeated pauses for breath, the triumphant language of the apostle : 'But ye are come unto Mount Zion — and unto the city of the living God — the heavenly Jerusalem — and to an innumerable company of angels — to the general assembly — of the church of the first-born — which are written in heaven — and to God, the Judge of all — and to the spirits of just men made perfect.' " No one could leave his chamber without feeling that ' The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileged beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite on the verge of heaven,' •* His last day was brightened with the rays of hope and glory. ' I have enjoyed,' said he ; ' not a cloud, but all clear sunshine. I have been trying to find a dark spot, but ail is bright. My sky is without a cloud.' He was answered, * I hope, dear father, the dark spots are all banished for ever.' ' For ever,' observed he. ' Yes ! I trust they are. I shall bo with my Saviour. How much reason I have to be thankful that, amidst all my weakness, my mind still dwells on religion. The love of Jesus grows more and more precious.' To the remark of a friend, * We have had a refreshing air since the rain lias fallen,' he replied, in broken accents : ' I breathe — the air — of heaven. My soul is filled — with God and Christ. Come li ij > I i 11 ' 'I I i ft- IB la > 11 ,< I' ;tr' I 112 27/2=: SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUB. — Lord Jesus — come — quickly.'" — Extract from the Life of Stephen Gano. American Baptint Puhlishiny Socieli/. I would not live alway ; I ask not to stay Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way ; The few lucid mornings that dawn on us here Are followed by gloom or beclouded with fear. I would not live alway thus fettered by sin — Temptation without and coiTuption within : E'exi the rapture of pardon is mingled with fears, And the cup of thanksgiving with penitent !aars. I would not live alway ; no — welcome the tomb ; Since Jesus hath lain there, I dread not its gloom : There sweet be my rest till He bid me arise To hail Him in triumi^h descending the skies. Who, who would live alway away from his God, — Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode. Where rivers of pleasure flow bright o'er the plains, And the noontide of glory eternally reigns ? There saints of all ages in harmony meet. Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet ; While anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul. ** Tlie Lord Jesus Christ having fulfilled God's law in every jiarticular, and satisfied the claims of Divine justice in the room and stead of the guilty, God for Christ/s sake freely bestows pardon upon even the very chief of sinners." (Gal. iii. 13; Eom. viii. 1.) — "Old School Independent Church:' " There is nothing," once said a dying lady, "but Jesus Christ between me and weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth." The Eev. George Dufiield, jun., recommends the two following short prayers : " Lord, make me to know my- self." '* Lord, make me to know Thee." THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 113 - Alas I " said an inquirer, " self-will and self-righteous- ness follow me everywhere. Only tell me when you think I shall learn to leave self. Will it be by study, or prayer, or good works?" "I think," was the answer - that the place where you lose self will be where you find your Saviour.^' Alas ! and did my Saviour bleed ? And did my Sovereign die ? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I ? Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree ? Amazing pity ! grace unknown ! And love beyond degree I Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When Chiist, the mighty Maker, died For man the creature's sin. Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes to tears. But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe : Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do. 9 114 W 1H I- : i t .r t H ' THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. CliArTEPt XXI. "What can rouse men from this fatal unconcern and callousness ? The instrumentality, my brethren, to ac- complish this work is still the same — it is the Cross ; the liower is still in the same object — the Saviour lifted up from the earth. It is idle to talk about what ouglit to in- fluence us. The simple fact is, that preaching Christ crucified is God's ordinance to stir the souls of men, nor has it ever failed. Whatever the heedlessness of a man, there is in the Cross an energy to rouse him, a power which ever has been, and ever will be acknowledged. This is the second proposition I advanced, and one which does not appear to me to require any proof. Why, look at history ; I appeal to facts ; I appeal to the thousands of all nations, ages, sexes, temperaments, and conditions, who have confessed this energy of the Cross, and yielded to it ** We have amongst us a class of people who are always crying out — * No excitement, we do not want ex- citement in religion.' Very well, let them get a preacher who knows nothing of Christ crucified in the heart, and says nothing of Christ crucified in the pulpit, and he wil walk at their head, and lead them quietly and comfortably enough down to hell. The Cross will excite. It is the most restless and resistless of agitators. No sooner was it erected than all nature felt and confessed its instigations. The earth heaved, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom, it agitated the rocks, it shook the sheeted dead from their slumbers, and disturbed the sun himself. Nor hath it lost its power. . 1 THE SINNER AND II IS SAVlom. 11.", ** No, brethren, tbc unparalleled phenomeuon exhibited ou Calvary eightocu hundred years aj;o can never die, can never grow old ; and wheresoever that is proclaimed, there men's hearls will be shaken ; the stnugs long silent will be swept by an unseen hand ; the wells long sealed hermetically will be opened, and the waters stirred to their inmost depths. ... Is it strange that the Cross is invested with a power to rouse and shake the soul ? Strange ! is not the marvel this— not that men are moved, but that all are not instantly melted and subdued by it ? AVhy let men be only men, let them onl^ have pulses that beat and hearts that throb, and this simple announcement, ' Ood so loved the world, that he (jave his uiilij h('(jotteu Son, that whosoecer hclicceth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life' — oh! the very thought is colossal, it is overmastering, and language d" oops under it — tell me, can this be received with coldness and in- difference ? is it supposable, is it possible ? And, then, the amazing consummation — the Deed ! the Deed ! the Deed ! the tragedy of which this earth was the theatre, while angels gazed confounded, and the hierarchies of heaven bent from their seats in silent astonishment, and Deity itself, I had almost said, must for once have been absorbed, for once have had all its universal regards and expatiations arrested, and fixed and concentrated, — that deed — that spectacle — can that be viewed wi^h apathy ? "What ! my brethren, that ' the Word was made llosli ' — that ' the Ancient of days ' was cradled as an infant — that He, 'by whom and for whom all things were created,' stooped to poverty and shame ; — are these things to be heard and to have no influence ! That, for us men and our salvation, ' the brightness of the Father's glory,' He who 'thought it no robbery to be equal with God,' emptied Himself, and took upon Him ' the form of a ser- 110 THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. i r* ! 1 ,1 ! I f vant,' antl terminated upon a gibbet a life of pain, and tears, and blood, — O Jesus I is this trt:e ? Can I believe this and bo unmoved ? Can this fail to bow my bouI, and wipe out every record from my heart, and live there alone, the one, single, all-controlling impression, stamped in to the very core, and moulding every filn-o to itself? and, with Andrew Fuller, to find our hearts for ever breaking out into unknown strains of love, and our lips — go where we will — still singing, ' Ob for this love let rocks and hills Their lasting si'.ciieo brealc ; Aiid all haniKiiiions human ton;^'UCS The Saviour's praises si)eak ! ' (( Sirs, sirs, men call me an enthusiast, but I ask you is not enthurdasra cold common-sense here ? ' What a pity,' cried the Roman, ' that wc have but one life for our coun- try.' "Which of you but exclaims this night. What a pity we have not a thousand hearts for such a Saviour — a thou- sand hearts, and every one of them a holocaust, a whole burnt offering, a sacred contlagration of gratitude and devotion. •'Nor is it only the overcoming fact of the humiliation and crucifixion of the Son of God that gives such power to the Cross. From it what overwhelming truths flash out on a guilty world, as from a blazing, focal, radiating central point. The Cross ! what an exhibition does it give of the value of the soul ! The Cross ! wdiat an ad- monition there of the miseries of the damned ! Devour- ing flames, chains of darkness, howlings of despair, I need you not — the Cross where Jesus bleeds to save us, gives me a more terrible idea of hell than you can. The Cross ! what an awful lustre does it pour upon the justice, the holiness, and the severity of God! Above all, the love of God — how dazzlingly, with what surpassing bright- :' i THE SIS'XKR AXD HIS SAVIOUR. 117 ucss, does not that shine there — sending a heavenly efful- gence all over this dark world, down even to the gates of hell ! I ask af,'ain, can tliis Cross ho viewed with indillVr- ence ? Is it strange that the Cross has power to rouse and stir the heart ? Is not this the wonder, not that men are shaken, but that all are not melted and mastered by the very first announcement of a crucilied Kedeemer ; and that whenever and wherever this truth is ^jroclaimed, the scenes of Pentecost are not renewed, and the place is not a Bochim, drenched with bursting tears rained thickly out of full hearts." 1 • I' •XcsuR, keep mc noar the Cross, There a precious luuiitiiiu Free to all — a healing fcilream, Flowri froru Calvary \s mouutaiu. In the Cross, in the Cross, Be my glory eviir ; Till my rajjtured sonl shall fuid llest beyond the river. Near the Cross, a trembliug soul, Love ami mercy fouiul mo ; There the bright and morning star Shed its beams aromul me. Near the Cross ! O Lamb of God, Bring it; scenes before rac ; Help me walk from day to day, Wilh. its shadows o'er mc. Koar the Cross I'll watch and wait. Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden stiaiid, Just beyond the river. *' I was brought up morally but not religiously ; did not feel that I was a ' di-eadful sinner ; ' was in a neighbour- hood where Methodist x^rotracted meetings had just com- T !,t ■M i H i 118 THE SINXKR ASD HIS SAVIOCn. mcnceA ; went ; on invitation went up to tlie altar ; not from feeling, but from a sense of duty ; but I soon felt ; and on the evening of the third day the clouds cleared away, and the light shone in my soul. ... So you may tell your people that though they do not feel their sins, yet in the day that they seek the Lord with their whole heart they shall find Him." " Miss A. B. was a higlily accomplished young lady, a leader in the polished and gay circles of one of our great cities, and utterly given up to worldliness and fashion. A Christian friend, after much difilculty, prevailed upon her to promise that every day for a year she would read a chapter in the Bil)lo, and ask God to guide her into the right way. With no special interest or feeling, but only because she had promised, she began every day retiring to her room for the purpose. And though at the beginning of the year she was utterly givou up to thoughtlessness and gaiety, at the end of it she was a faithful, devoted, consistent Christian, and so continued to the end of her life — a period of many years — and yet at no one day of the entire year was she conscious that her views or feel- ings were at all dilTerent from what they were the day before." — .Idi. Tract Socicfi/ WcekJij. How suIe^iiT. are the words, Anil vet to ffiith how jihiin, Whici) J'.sns nttcrod whih^ on earth — " Yeviustbe horn nfiain .'" " Yemitst he horn ai/aiu ! " For so hath God decreetl ; No reformation will sutlico — 'Tis life poor shmers need. " Ye j«M.s'< he h<nii apain ! " And life in Christ must liavo ; In vain the soul may elsewhere go — 'Tis He alone can save. i> THE SISSER A SI) lIlS SAVlOUJt. 119 *' Ye must he born again ! " Or nevor enter heaven ; 'Tis only blood- washed ones are there — The ransomed and forgiven. "Then said Christian, What moans this? The shep- herds tokl them, This is a by-way to hell, a way that hypo- crites go in at. ... I saw in my dream that Ignorance came up to the river- side ; but ho soon got over, for it happened that there was then in that place one Vain-hope, a ferryman, that with his boat helped him over. . . . Then they took him up, and carried him to the door thiit I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there. Then I ..aw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction." — Bim- yon a Vil<jr'un's Pn)<jrc):.i. There is a gate that stands ajar, And through its portals gleaming, A radiance from the Cross afar, The Saviour's love revealing. Oh, depth of mercy ! can it be That gate was left ajar for me ? That gate ajar stands free for all Wlio seek through it salvation ; The rich and poor, the groat and small, Of every tribe and nation. Beyond the river's brink we'll lay The Cross that uere is given, And bear the crown of life away, And love Him more in heaven. I ' !{ 120 THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. :fll . "i : i r| CHAPTEE XXII. " One further thought I want to leave upon every mind. Nothing should make us speak with bated breath when we are lifting up Christ crucified before the eyes of sinful men. There is no doctrine, there is no experience, there is no decree of the Father, there is no influence of the Spirit which need for a moment make us hesitate when we are extoUing the Lord Jesus as an all-sufficient Saviour for the very chief of sinners. Here I stand this morning solemnly to avow before God that I have not a shadow of a hope of seeing His face with acceptance except that which lies in the fact that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners ; in Him I do unfeiguedly trust, and in Him alone. What if I have preached the Gospel these five-and-twenty years ; what if I have brought souls to Jesus, not by hundreds but by thousands, through the Divine blessing ; what if I have been the means of found- ing and fostering works of usefulness on the right hand and on the left ; truly, if these things were to be gloried in we might glory before men, but far from it, we ascribe them all to the Lord's grace, and before His presence we lie in the dust. We have no hope because of our works, no, nor a shadow of hope ; we have no reliance upon our graces, no, nor a ghost of reliance upon them. Jesus Christ stood in my stead ; I, a guilty sinner, have taken shelter by faith, which He has given me, beneatli His wings, and I hide myself in Him. You have no claim upon Him ; you have no right to expect mercy at His hands because of anything in you that could move Him to pity ; but in ii THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. 121 the plenitude of His grace He has set forth Christ to ho a propitiation for our sins, and the apostle adds, ' And not for ours only, but for the siu3 of the whole v.orkL' We preach Jesus Christ unto you this morning, and say in His own words, * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' Come to Christ and trust in Him, and ye shall be reconciled to God. ** Whoever thou mayest be, and in whatever condition of heart thou mayest be, if thou hast seven devils in thee, if thou art as vil*^ as Lucifer himself in rebellion against God, if thou believest in the great atoning sacrifice, thou shalt have instantaneous pardon and acceptance in tlic Beloved. Oh, hold not out against such free and bound- less love. ' God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto thcui,' and * whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.' Oh, yield thee, man. What are thy works but sin and death ? What are thy boasted perform- ances, thy virtues, and thine excellences ? All rottenness in tlie sight of the heart-searching God. Quit thou thy refuges of lies, I pray thee; quit then now, lest the ava- lanclie oi Divini. wrath slio'ild overwhelm both thee and thy refuges. ' Come, guilty souls, and flee away, Like doves to Jesus' wuuuds ; This is the accepted gospel day, Wherein free grace abounds.' Trust His Son Jesus ; it is His command to you. Li other words, ' believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and tliou shalt be saved,' for * he that believeth and ii baptized shall be saved ; but he that b l'>^-, .:tli not shall be damned.'" — lii'v. C. H. Sjniiyeo7i's Santo us. 11 ll 122 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. How lost was my condition, Till Jesus made me whole ; Tliorc IS l)ut one Physician Can cnrc the sin-sick soul: Nt'xt door to deatli Ho found me. And snatched me from the grave, To tell to all around mo, Ilis wondrous power to save. From men great skill professin;^^ I sought a cure to gain ; But this proved more distressing, And added to my pain. Some said that nothing ailed me, Some gave me up for lost. Thus every refuge failed me, And all my hopes were crossed. A dying, risen Jesus, Seen by an eye of faith. At once from danger frees us. And saves the soul from death ; Como,then, to this Physician, His help he'll freely give ; He makes no hard condition — 'Tis only look and live. James Laiug clicil June 11, 1812, aged 14 years. We cull the following from an account of his sickness and death, w»*ilton by the late Eev. R. M. McCheyne : — He never used to swear at home, because he was afraid he would be punished for it ; but when among his companions he often used to swear. " Ah,'' added he, " it is a wonder God did not send me to hell wlien I was a swearer." Another day, hearing some boys swearing near his window, he said, " It is a wonder God did not leave me to swear among these boys yet." Such was the early life of this boy. One night he was leaving a prayer-meetinjj cryv»?^, nx>d THE SIS SEE AND HIS SAVIOCE. 123 when asked the reason, he said, "There's me come awa* uithout Christ to-night again." He was stnt to Glammis a short time for his health. When he came home, he said, "Ah, Margaret, tliere was no Bible read yonder ! The people a' went to their bed just as if there had been no God." One day after Mr. McCheyne had paid him a visit, he was found on his knees praying, 'W> JesuSj $are me — save me!" Margaret asked him if he would likt some bread to eat; he answered, "No, but I would take a bit of the bread of life if you would give it me." Towards evening he anxiously asked, " Have I only to believe that Jesus died for sinners ? Is that all 7" He was told yes, when he made answer, ** Well, I do believe that JesUS died for me, for I am a poor, hell-deserving sinner. I have been praying all this afternoon that when Jesus shed his blood for sinners, He would sprinkle some of it on me. And He did it.'' He then turned to Rom. V. 8, and read these words : " While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." His sister at this wept for joy, and J'^mes added, -'I am not afraid to die now, for Jesus has died for me." One day Mr. McCheyne read to him: "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink ; " "I came to seek and to ^ave that which was lost;" " Wilt thou be made whole •? " '* I give unto them eternal life ; " when he said, •' that's nue.'' He often wondered "how God sent His servant so often to him, such a hell-deserving sinner." On another occasion he said. '• I have a wicked, wicked heart, and a tempt ii:g devil. He'll not let me alone, but this is all the hell that I'll get. Jesus bore my hell already. Margaret, this wicked heart of mine would be hell enough for me, though there was no other ! But there ara no wicked hearts in heaven.' 124 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ii N! 3! I lij n ,• i 'I He had a very clear view of the way of salvation through the ri</}it('ou,sness of ChrH, and it was to him a sweet theme. One day he said to his sister, **0 Margaret, I see it must he all Jesus from the heginning to the end. .... David was here, and told mc how many chapters he had read, &c. I see he's upon the working plan ; but I must tell him that it's not his reading, nor his praying, but Jl'shs nlone tiiat must save him." At another time he said, ** TL , ' is telling me that some of my prayer is sin, but I jus.1 11 him it is all sin. I l)id him go to Jesus, there is no sin in Him, and I have taken Him as my Saviour." " What do you think ? TJic devil tempts me to believe that I will never be saved, because I have repented on my deathbed, but I cry, If I perish, I'll perish at Christ's feet. Would you not think that the devil would let a poor young creature like me alone '? but he's an awful tempter." His sister sent him the hymn, " The ful- ness of Jesus." He said that he liked it all, but he liked the last verse best — " I long to be with Jesus, Amid the lieavonlj thronr!;, To sing witli eaiuts His praises, To learn tlic augcFs song." On one occasion his father said, " Poor Jamie ! '' He replied, **Ah, father, don't call mc poor, I am rich; they that have Christ have all things." D. G. was a very bad boy — so much so, that he had been expelled from the Sunday-school. He visited James regularly every day for some weeks before he died. James often prayed with him alone. • " Sometimes both prayed at the same time for a new heart. Margaret was always made to v/ithdraw at these times. He pleaded with this boy to seek Jesus when young, * for it's easier to find Jesus when we are young. I THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 12c Mind what I told you, for I will soon be in heaven.' Ihnj — ' Will you get to heaven ? ' Jmuea — ' Oh yes ! all that believe in Christ get to heaven, and I believe that Jesus died for me. Now, David, if I see you on the left hand, you will mind that I often bade you come to Christ.' Bon — ' I'll have naebody to pray with me, and tell me about my soul, when you are dead.' James — *I have bidden Margaret pray for you, and I have told the minister ; and go you to our kirk, and he will tell you the way to come to Christ.' Three times a day did this anxious inquirer seek the prayers and counsels of his youthful instructor, till James's strength gave way, and he could talk no more. The day before he died the boy came in; James could hardly speak, but he looked steadily at him, and said, " Seek on, David.^' To his aunt he said, " aunt, don't put off seeking Christ to a deathbed, for if I had Christ to seek to-day, what would have become of me ? but I have given my heart to Christ." Margaret asked him, ** What will I do ? I will miss your company in the house." James an- swered, *' You maun just go the mair to Jesus. Do not be ill about me now, when I am dead, Margaret. If I thought that, I would be sorry ; and God would be angry at you. Ask grace to keep you from it." About midnight, Margaret seeing him so much worse, woke her father. She tried to conceal her tears ; but James saw them, and said, with a look of solemn earnest- ness, "0 woman, I wonder to see you do the like of that ! " He soon after fell asleep in Jesus. How loving is Jesus, who came from the sky la tenderest pity for sinners to die I His hands and His feet they were nailed to the tree, And all this He suffered for sinners like me I 120 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. How gladly does Jesus free pardon impart To nil wlio receive Him by fidth in their lieart ! No evil befals tliein, their home is above, And Jesus throws round them the arms of His love. How precious is Jesus to all who beliovc ! And out of His fulness what grace they receive ! "When weak He supports them, when erring He guides, And everything needful He kindly provides. Oh, give then to Jesus your earliest days ; They only are blessed who walk in His ways : In life and in death He will still be their friend ; For those whom He loves He will love to the end. '* Wiat a fool, quotli be, am I, thus to lie iu a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty ! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am per- suaded, open any door in Doubting Castle. Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, opened the doors of the castle therewith, and Christian and Hopeful both came out." — Bumjans Pilgrim^s Progress. "Wesley introduced a remarkable passage of this kind in one of his sermons. * The devil,' said he, ' once infused into my mind a temptation that perhaps I did not believe what I was preaching. ' Well then,' said I, ' I will preach it till I do.' But the devil suggested, ' What if it should not be true ? ' ' Still,' I replied, ' I will preach it, because, whether true or not, it must be pleasing to God, by pre- paring men better for another world.' * But what if there should be no other world ? ' rejoined the enemy, * I will go on preaching it,' said I, ' because it is the way to make them better and happier in this. ) >> Eestraining prayer, we cease to fight ; Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright ; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint uponjiis knees. THE SISW'KR A\D HIS SAVIOm. 127 CHAPTER XXIII. "Before Jesus appeared on earth, lie had from eternity possessed all the perfoctiou of Deity. As the Father iy God, so also Jesus is God, This is a great mystery, but it is a great truth. The Bible clearly declares it. He is called ' The Word ; ' and St. John tells us, ' In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.' And, ' The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.' We should have cause to fear, if any one inferior were our Saviour. But we may feel quite safe whc He undertakes to save, who is the Lord of heaven and earth. Who can harm us, if He promises to help us ? ' If God be for us, who can be against us ? ' His power, wisdom, holiness, and goodness are all employed on our behalf, as soon as we come to Jesus. With such a Saviour we cannot perish. ' He is able to save to the uttermost.' You need no one to introduce you to Him. The beggar and the prince, the black man and the white, the ignorant and the learned, those clothed in rags and those in silk attire, are equally welcome. All are invited. You sin by looking anywhere else for help. He says, ' Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.' Look away from men, away from yourself ; look only to Jesus, for He alone can save. " Much is said of coming to Jesus, but how can I come ? He is in heaven, and how can I go there to speak to Him *? I am told He is also everywhere, but I cannot sec Him, and how then can I go to Him ? If He were but on earth, 128 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. . as He once was, there is no trouble I would not take. Without all this trouble, you can make Him understand that you wish Him to save you. Think of Him, let your heart feel respecting Him, and let your cries ascend to Him, just as if you saw Him. He is always near and within call ; and though you cannot see Him, He sees you, knows all you feel, and hears all you say. Coming to Jesus is the desire of the heart after Him. It is to feel our sin and misery ; to believe that He is able and willing to i^ardon, comfort, and save us ; to ask Him to help us, and to trust in Him as our Friend. To have just the same feelings and desires as if He were visibly present, and we came and implored Him to bless us, is to come to Him, though we do not see His face nor hear His voice. Eepenting sinner, your very desire for pardon, your prayer, * Jesus, save me ' — this is coming to Him." — Rev. Newman Hall (*• Come to Jesus "). Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wonnded, sick and sore ; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love, and power : He is able, He is willing : doubt no more. Now, ye needy, come and welcome, God's free bounty glorify ; True belief and true repentance — Every grace that brings you nigh — Without money, Come to Jesus Christ and buy. Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream ; All the fitness He requireth Is to feel your need of Him. This He gives you : 'Tis the Spirit's rising beam. THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. 129 Come, ye weary, heavy-laden, Bruiseil au J ruiued by the Fall ; If you tarry till you're better, You will never come at all. Not the righteous — Sinners Jesus came to call. <( His soul was almost always filled with joy un- speakable and full of glory. How oft would he cry out, ' Oh that I could but let you know what I now feel ! Oh that I could show you what I see ! Oh that I could ex- press the thousandth part of that sweetness which I now find in Christ ! You would all then think it well worth the while to be religious. my dear friends, we little think what Christ is worth upon a deathbed I I would not for a world, nay, for millions of worlds, be now without •Christ and a pardon. I would not for a world live any longer ; the very thought of a possibility of a recovery makes me even tremble. " * I tell you I do so long to be with Christ, that I could be contented to be cut in pieces, and to be put to the most exquisite torments, so I might die and be with Christ. Oh, how sweet is Jesus! **Como, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Death, do thy worst ! Death hath lost its terribleness. Death, it is nothing. I say, death is nothing, through grace, to me. I can as easily die as shut my eyes, or turn ray head and sleep : I long to be with Christ : I long to die.' " Addressing his brethren, he said, * I charge you all, do not pray for my life any more. Oli, that glory, the un- speakable glory that I behold ! My heart is full, my heart is full! Christ smiles, and I cannot but smile. Can you find in your heart to stop me, who am now going to the complete and eternal enjoyment of Christ ? Would you keep ue from my crown? The arms of my blessed 10 ^^ i:50 THE SIS'NP:n AND HIS SAVIOUR. I , Saviour are open to embrace me ; the aiigels stand ready to carry my soul into His bosom. " ' Oh, He is come, He is come ! Oh, how sweet, how glorious is the blessed Jesus ! How shall I speak the thousandth part of His praises ! Oh, for words to set out a little of that excellency ! But it is inexpressible ! Oh ! how excellent, glorious, and lovely is the precious Jesus ! He is sweet, He is altogether lovely. " * my friends, stand by and wonder ; come, look upon a dying man ; I cannot myself but wonder 1 Was there ever a greater kindness ? Was there ever a more sensible manifestation of rich grace ! Oh, why me. Lord ? why me ? If this be dying, dying is sweet. Let no true Christian ever be afraid of dying. Oh, death is sweet to me ! This bed is soft. Oh, that you did but see and feel what I dol' ** According to his desire, most of the time that was spent with him was spent in praise ; and he would still be calling out, ' More praise still. Oh, help me to praise Him ; I have done with prayer, and all other ordinances ; I have almost done conversing with mortals. I shall presently behold Christ Himself, who died for me, and washed me in His blood. I shall, before a few hours are over, be in eternity, singing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb. I shall presently stand upon Mount Zion, with an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant. I shall hear the voice of much people, and be one amongst those who shall say. Hallelujah ! salvation, glory, honour, and power unto the Lord our God ; and again we shall say. Hallelujah I " * Methinks I stand, as it were, with one foot in heaven, and the other upon earth ; methinks I hear the melody of heaven, and by faith I see the angels waiting to carry my THE SIXNEn AND HIS SAVIOUR. 131 soul to tlie bosom of Josiis, and I shall be for ever with the Lord in glory.'" Thus died the Rev. John Janeway, aged twenty-four years.—" Closinfj Scerus^ There's a bonntiful laud on high, To its glories I fain would fly ; When by sorrows pressed down, I long for my crown, In that beautiful land on high. In that beautiful land I'll be From earth and its cares set free ; My Jesus is there ; He's gone to prepare A place in that laud for me. There's a beautiful land on high ; I shall enter it by and by, There, with friends hand in hand, I shall walk on the strand, In that beautiful land on high. There's a beautiful land on high ; Then why should I fear to die, When death is the way To the realms of day. In that beautiful laud on high ? There's a beautiful land on high. Where we never shall say " Good-bye! " When over the river We're happy for e.i >•, In that beautiful lanu on high. ..." The Lord in mercy had called me, and revealed His precious salvation to my soul, at the end of my fifteenth year, in the very midst of that heathen darkness which hovers over the Lutheran Church in Germany. I had no teacher but the Spirit and God's Word ; the struggles were long and fearfully hot, but at the end of six 182 THE SINNER AND II IS SAVIOUIi. if i| it II. u ' 1 ! lit I? ■! months I found tluit precious iiciicc wliicli passes all uudcr- stantling. I talked to every one about Jesus Christ — to my father, mother, brothers, sisters, school-mates, and neighbours . . . They all laughed at me, cj: me mad, and scorned me. But oh, I was so happy ; ana the wilder the storm around me raged, the deeper and deeper was my happiness within. . . . My father was an infidel ; when we knew death was approaching I would in keen anguish of heart throw myself at his feet, embrace his knees, and plead with him that he would have mercy on his own soul and accept Jesus as his Saviour. He would push me away and swear at me. His awful death was a fearful l)roof that the blood of Christ did not avail for him, for his agonies were truly horrid to witness ; the worm that never dies appears to have taken possession ^f his soul even before it had left its earthly tabernac - K.i'trnct from a Private Letter to the Author from Mrs. L. B. It , the Widow of Colonel U , of the U.S.A. Rescue tho porisliing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in pit\' from sin and the grave; Weej) o'er the erring one, Lift up the fallen. Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Though they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting, Waiting the penitent child to receive. Plead with them earnestly. Plead with them gently ; He will forgive if they only believe. I i i. THE SISXER AXD IIIS SAVWT'n, 133 CHAPTEE XXIV. " Thank God, you can be saved if you will. . . . But let me 8ay here that Christ drew the dividing lino wliile upon that cross. On one side of Him was unbelief, and the unbeliever died reviling Ilim. On the other side was belief, and the believer went up to Paradise. He believed in a moment, and yet there are men who cannot under- stand sudden conversion. One of them would not receive salvation, and went down to death; and the other accepted salvation as a gift, and went up to His kingdom. I can now imagine him singing the sweet songs of Moses and the Lamb. No one sings those sweet songs any louder than does the thief. Ask that i)oor thief, who when down here was a reviler, who was a blasphemer, and lived at enmity with God, how he came into that world of light ? Ask him how he got that sceptre in his hand, that crown on his brow^ ; how he was permitted to sing the high hallelujahs of the redeemed, and his voice will come back, telling you, * I took salvation as the gift of God.' Ah, my friends, there is salvation for all who will have it, and damnation for those who won't accept the gift. He commanded His disciples to preach the Gospel as a gift just before He ]e£t the earth. * Go ye,' said He, ' into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature ; he that BELiEVETH aud is baptized shall be saved, but he that BELiEVETH NOT sliall be DAMNED.' What will you do ? AVill you believe and be saved ? Will you accept His offer to-night or reject it ? ' Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.' (( F^ RH .' i ■ i •). I 1 ' 1 i ■% ! il 1 |l_ ,1 i 1 1 1 *( ' 1 ^ : 1 1 jj i I { V T 1 !! 134 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. I can now read it — * Christ died for my sins.' I have often thought that if I could only make people feel this really, and could tell the story of His death as it ought to be told, I would only preach one sermon, and go up and down the world and just tell this one story. I don't know any- thing that would break the heart of the world like this story, if ii could be brought before men and women, and they would ttel it. I know it broke my heart, and I have often thought if I could only tell it as it ought to be told I would be the happiest man in the world. I don't believe it has ever been told yet. I don't believe the man has been born who could tell it ; I don't believe that the angels in heaven could tell it. Sometimes people say we have overdrawn the pictures in the Bible ; but there is one story that has never been overdrawn — the story of His death. No one ever did justice to that story ; no one ever made that real. I believe the heart of every man in this audience would be broken if I could make that story real. . . . They look upon it as the old story of 1800 years ago, which they have heard from the cradle. I believe, if we were living as we ought to, it would be fresh every night and every hour of our lives. " A great many people say, ' I want to become clean before I come to Christ.' Now, my friends, that is the devil's work. He tries to get people to believe that they can't come without getting rid of their sins, but, as I've said, all through the Scriptures He bids you come as you are. We cannot take away or atone for our sins ; come to Him, and He will blot them out. . . . You needn't try to get rid of one particle of sin. He wants to save you as you are. * Whosoever will, let him come and drink of the water of life freely.' Will you come to-day ? The Spirit and the Bride invite you this afternoon. Now I want to ask you what are you going to do with these ten loving THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 135 :ve invitations to-day : ' Come and hear/ ' Come and see,' 'Come and reason,' ' Come and rest,' ' Come and eat and drink,' « Come and dine,' ' Come and find grace,' ' Come unto the marriage,' 'Come — whosoever will,' and * Come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you ? ' Ask God to help you to come to-day."— D. L. Moody's Sermons. Go to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel the tempter's power ; Yoxir Rcileemer's conflict see : Watch with Him one bitter hour : Turn not from His griefs away ; Learn of Jesus Christ to pray. Follow to the judgment-hall ; View the Lord of life arraigned. Oh, the wormwood and the gall ! Oh, the pangs His soul sustained ! Shun not suffering, shame, or loss : Learn of Him to bear the cross. Calvary's mournful mountain climb; There, adoring at His feet, Mark that miracle of time, God's own sacrifice complete. It is finished ! hear Him cry : Learn of Jesus Christ to die. Early hasten to the tomb, Where they laid His breathless clay. All is solitude and gloom : — Who hath taken Him away ? Christ is risen ; He seeks the skios : Saviour, teach us so to rise. The great Eev. Ihomas Chalmers, D.D. LL.D., preached (the Gospel ?) some years before he was a converted man. " He performed," says Dr. F. Wayland, his biographer, " all the duties of his office which at that oiiuo were com- monly required of a minister. He inculcated principally f^ I ri;- I i- ! ~N 136 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. civil, social, and moral duties, with the hope that thus he might at least witness a reformation in the members of his parish. They considered him an earnest preacher. ... At the same time he was not unwilling to express his dislike of the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, and especially he believed the doctrines of the atonement and of salvation by Christ alone nothing bettoi- m the dream of fanaticism. . . . With his altered views of human sin- fulness there came also an altered view of the atonement. He says of himself, referring to this time, * I was, in fact, a practical deist, excepting in a kind of tenderness for some tenets, and a reversionary out-look for final happi- ness.'" Again, quoting from his Memoir, " He was thus taught that he was sinful, helpless, and undone ; that salvation by our own efforts is impossible, and that the attempt to work out a righteousness by ourselves is absurd. He saw that our pardon must come alone from the atonement of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, and that this pardon is offered to all that believe. He was led to see that, believing in Christ, a new spirit is given to us, so that with the whole heart we serve Him from love ; that which the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin (as an offeriipg for sin) condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. The good news thus ofl'ered to him he em- braced with his whole soul. As a helpless, condemned sinner, renouncing all merit in the sight of God, and justly exposed to the condemnation of the law, he cast himself on Christ alone for pardon ; he yielded up his whole soul to be governed alone by His Spirit, and clothed in the righteousness of Christ, he felt that he could ap- THE SIXXER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 137 proacli into the presence of immaculate purity, and claim the privilege of the sous of God. For ' God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoso believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' His whole life was henceforth governed by a new principle. Every power of his soul was employed in showing forth the praises of Him who had called him out of darkness into his marvellous light." "Writing to a friend Dr. Chalmers says : " I must say that I had never had so close and satisfactory a view of the Gospel as when I have been led to contemplate it in the light of a simple offer on the one side, and a shnple acceptance on the other. It is just saying to one and all of us, ' There is forgiveness through the blood of my Son ; take it ; ' and whosoever believes the reality of the offer takes it. It is not in any shape the reward of our ser- vices. It is the gilt of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Son of man was so lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He died somewhat suddenly, and left no deathbed testimony. — Ejtrackd from Mi'iiiuir of Thoiiuis (Jhabnersy D.D., LL.D., by lUv. Francis Wai/land, D.D. Give me tlie wings of faith to rise Within the veil, and see Tbe i^iuts above, iiow great their joys How great their glories be. ilany are the frienils who are waiting to-day Happy on the golden strand ; Many are the voices calling us away To join their glorious band — Calling us away, calling us away, Calling to the better land. • > 138 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Once they were mourners here below, And poured out cries and tears : They wrestled hard, as wo do now, With sins, and doubts, and fears. • I ask them whence their victoiy came ; They, with united breath, Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb, Their triumph to His death. On his deathbed Samuel Rutherford said, ** Brethren, do all you can for Christ : pray for Christ, preach for Christ, feed the flock of Christ, visit the sick for Christ, do all for Christ." The dying words of John Knox were, *' Come, Lord Jesus : sweet Jesus, into Thy hands I com- mend my spirit." On October 25, 1856, died the widow of the Rev. Wm. Rhodes, of Damerham, England, in the triumph of the Gospel. The following plaintive hymn was dictated by her to an amanuensis with her dying breath, and while in the greatest bodily suffering — Lord, I approach Thine awful throne, A sinner saved by grace ; I dare present no other plea. But that the Saviour died for me. I trust His love, so free, so great ; His pity for our fallen state ; His power so boundless to redeem The feeble saint that trusts in Him. Withhold not. Lord, the grace I plead; Withhold not, Lord, the ligiit I need ; Pour through my soul Thy sacred rays, And fill my fading lip with praise. Give me a glimpse of sacred light, A vision of the Infinite, That shall light up my sinking frame. And bring fresh honours to Thy name. If « THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUn. 1:59 CHAPTEE XXV. •* So now we must close — and this is the last point — the PROCLAMATION OF THIS FACT, that * Christ (lied for the un- godly.' I would not mind if I were condemned to live fifty years more, and never to be allowed to speak hut these five words, if I might be allowed to utter them in the ear of every man, and woman, and child who lives. ' Christ died for the ungodly ' is the best message that even angels could bring to men. In the proclamation of this the whole church ought to take its share. Those of us who can address thousands should be diligent to cry aloud, ' Christ died for the ungodly ! ' but those of you ■who can only speak to one, or write a letter to one, must keep on at this — 'Christ died for the ungodly.' Shout it out, or whisper it out ; print it in capitals, or write it in a lady's hand — ' Christ died for the ungodly.' Speak it solemnly ; it is not a thing for jest. Speak it joyfully ; it is not a theme for sorrow, but for joy. Speak it firmly ; it is an indisputable fact. Facts of science, as they call them, are always questioned : this is unquestionable. Speak it earnestly; for if there be any truth which ought to arouse all a man's soul it is this — ' Christ died for the ungodly.' Speak it where the ungodly live, and that is at your own house. Speak it alsa down in the dark corners of the city, in the haunts of debauchery, in the home of the thief, in the den of the depraved. Tell it in the gaol ; and sit down at the dying bed and read in a tender whisper — * Christ died for the ungodly.' When you pass the harlot in the street, do not give a toss with p^^ m 1 1 ■ ! I I ,1 \ : 110 THE SINNER AND 11 LS SAVIOUR. that proud head of yours, but remember that * Christ Tiled for the ungodly ; ' and when you recollect those that injured }ou, say no bitter word, but hold your tongue, and remember * Christ died for tlie ungodly.' Make this henceforth the message of your lii'e — ' Christ died for the ungodly.' " Having put this as plainly as I know how, and having guarded my speech to prevent there being anything like a flowery sentence in it, having tried to put this as clearly as daylight itself -that ' Christ died for the ungodly,' if your ears refuse the precious boons that come through the dying Christ, your blood be upon j'our own heads, for there is no other way of salvation for any one among you. Whether you reject or accept this, I am clear. But oh ! do not reject it, for it is your life. If the Son of God dies for sinners, and sinners reject His blood, they have com- mitted the most heinous offence possible. I will not ven- ture to affirm, but I do suggest that the devils in hell are not capable of so great a stretch of criminality as is in- volved in the icjection of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Here lies the highest love. The incarnate God bleeds to death to save men, and men hate God so much that they will not even have Him as He dies to save them. They will not be reconciled to their Creator, though He stoops from His loftiness to the depths of woe in the person of His Son on their behalf. This is depravity indeed, and desperateness of religion. God grant you may not be guilty of it. There can be no fiercer flame of wrath than that which will break forth from love that has been trampled upon, when men have put from them eternal life, and done despite to the Lamb of God. • Oh,' says one, ' would God I could believe ! ' * Sir, what difficulty is there in it ? Is it hard to believe the truth ? Darest thou belie thy God ? Art thou steeling thy heart to such THE SINKER AND HIS SAriOUR. Ill desperateness that tliou wilt call thy God a liar '? ' ' No ; I believe Christ died for the ungodly,' says one, ♦ but I want to know how to get the merit of that death applied to my own soul.' Thou mayest, then, for here it is— ' He that believeth in him,' that is, he that trusts in Him, * is not condemned.' Here is the Gospel and the whole of it—' He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved : he that beheveth not shall be damned.' "— LVr. C. H. Spur- aeoti's Sermons. In ovil long I took tlelight, Unawed by shame or foar, Till a new object struck my sight And stopped my wild career. I saw one hanging on a tree, In agonies and blood ; He fixed liis languid eyes on me, As near His cross I stood. Oh. never till my latest breath Shall I forget that lo(^k ; It seemed to charge me with His death, Though not a word He spoke. My conscience felt and owned the guilt ; It i)lunged me in despair ; I saw my sins His blood had spilt, And helped to nail Him there. A second look He gave, which said, " I freely all forgive ; This blood is for thy ransom paid ; I die that thou mayst live." Thus, while His death my sin displays In all its darkest hue, Such is the mystery of grace, It seals my pardon too. "His mother had permitted him to enter his room alone, but kept her station near the door ; his groans and I i 142 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ' I ill Biglis increased her alarm ; she sent for me. I hastened to him, and witnessed a sight which can never be for- gotten. Yet ! I beheld my petitions answered in the agonizing prayers of my only child. With hands clasped together he sat on his bed, his eyes turned heavenward, tears plentifully bedewed his cheeks. I heard him with indescribable anguish imploring the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. His affectionate mother, at a little distance from him, sat weeping. Convulsed with different feelings I approached his bed, when, taking my hand, he ex- claimed in agony — " ' papa, papa! your sermon to-night has shown me that I am wrong — that I am a lost sinner. You said that those persons who had never gone forth weeping would never return rejoicing ; and, alas ! till now I never knew what sorrow for sin meant ; therefore I have no scriptural right to peace or joy : papa, papa ! what shall I do ? ' " ' Be calm, my dear,' I. replied, * the case is not a lost one.' " ' But I am lost,' he quickly replied. *' 'Yes, you are lost, but in the same way as a man or child who falls into a pit or river ; should a friend pass at the moment, and lift him from his perilous position, he would be saved. So our Lord Jesus Christ stands ready and anxious to assist you, and bids you look to Him and be saved. You are made sensible that you need a Saviour ; He waits to be gracious ; He attends to the first breath of prayer from a penitent child : He loves the first groans or sighs sent from the heart. Look to Him, my dear boy ; accept of His mercy ; pray to Him ; He will pardon and love you.' •* He again clasped his hands, and with a heartrending groan said, * But I have no right to joy, if destitute of real sorrow for sin.' THE SISWER ASD HIS SAVIOUR. 143 jath " ' But do you not feel your Bins to be a burden ? ' " ' Yes, now I do.' " * Well, then, the Saviour says, " Come unto mo, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest; look unto me, and be ye saved." ' "He became more calm, but my feelings being completely overpowered, obliged me to leave the room. AVhen more composed, I returned, and found him in bitter agony, con- versing with his mother, and again exclaiming, ' Oh ! I have been deceived all these years ; what an awful thing is self-deception I Oh that the Spirit would witness with my spirit that I am born of God.' His mother was direct- ing him to the Saviour. He continued to pray earnestly until, exhausted, he fell into the arms of sleep. She watched by him until midnight, rejoicing and weeping. '• Nothing but Thy blood, Jesus, can do helpless sinners good. I committed my weeping son in prayer to the care of Him who graciously styles Himself the ' God of love,' the * Friend of sinners,' who alone can communi- cate peace to the troubled conscience. " I had not sat long the next morning in my study thus exercised, when I heard his dear little footsteps near my door. He entered with his usual bow and salutation — •' ' Good morning, papa.' ** * Good morning, my darling ; how are you ? Come to my arms, I want to ask you a question or two. When at your door last night, I heard you exclaim with great eagerness, " Oh that the Spirit would witness with my spirit that I am a child of God." Did you mean that the great and blessed God would speak to you, a poor little sinner, with a voice from heaven.' . *' With a look that now rends my heart, he said, * No, papa; I should be ashamed of such a thought.' *' ' Well, my child,' I replied, *I am glad that you had ^ir ^ 144 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. no such desire or expectation. But tell me what you did mean ?' '* ' I meant,' he said, with the firmness of a man fifty years old, ' that I wished the Holy Spirit would work in my heart what He has written in the Bible, and then let me see it.' " * And do you now desire that your whole heart may be sanctified and devoted to God '? ' *' * Yes, papa,' he replied with strong emotion, * 1 do.' ** * Cleave then to the Saviour, my dear child, praying for His mercy, and it shall be granted.' ** A new principle now pervaded his actions. Before he felt the comforts of pardoning grace, he trembled in view of God's justice ; now that his soul knew the joys of for- giveness, he felt the mainspring of all his endeavours to be the ennobling principle-of Divine love. From the most close investigation of his character, I had every reason to believe that his deep and often returning sorrow for sin produced the * peaceable fruits of righteousness.' " On returning, I found my precious boy seriously ill, and carried him to bed ; he could not walk. So rapidly had disease increased, that his senses began to wander. Two physicians were called in ; both agreed in opinion that no danger was near. On the following day the sj^mp- toms increased, and excited alarm ; he had scarcely any intervals of reason. "Once, indeed, he pointed to the newly-raised chapel and cottage, saying, * In my Father's h'^nse are many man- sions, to one of which I am going , that chapel I shall never enter.' He then sung several hymns, and imagined himself in the schools, addressing the children in his usual strains ; but was evidently unconscious of every- thing around him. During that night the fever (a con- firmed typhus) manifested the most marked symptoms of THE fitXXEn AXD Hl^ SAVIOUn. I4r, arpioaching death. In the evening he exchanged earth tor Jicaven, aged 12 years and 11 months:' -Krtracts from the Memoir of Samuel W. Kilpin. Am. Baptist Vuhlishin,, bocietij. Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast, There, by His love o'ershadod, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Uark ! 'tis ttic voice of angola Borne in a song to me, Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea. Safe in the arras of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast, There, by His love o'ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Safe in the arras of Jesus, Safe from corroding care, Safe from the world's temptations. Sin cannot hurt me there. Free from the blight of sorrow. Free from my doubts and fears ; Only a few more trials. Only a few more tears I Jesus, my heart's dear refuge, Jesus has died for me ; Firm on the Kock of Ages Ever my trust shall be. Here let me wait with patience, Wait till the night is o'er ; Wait till I see the morning Break on the golden shore. (( Stop trying. The more you try to feel, the more you won't. Feeling does not come by trying ; it comes al- ways unsought. ... God calls you to two things. (1) Trust in Him ; (2) Consecration to Him. Give yourself 11 uc, THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. to Him ; accept His gift of Himself to you ; and then go about your daily duties as He opens tliem to you, doing them because He calls you to them, and leaving Him to bring you the fruits of joy. peace, hope, itc, in His own time and way." — (Jhristian Wcelilij. Auwriam Tract Sorii'ti/. A lady when dying overheard some of her friends say in a whisper, " She is sinking fast," when she opened her eyes and said, ** Jloiv am I sink t/tioutih a rock /" Sho evidently felt that she was resting securely on the Bock of Auks. Rock of Ages, cleft for mo, Let mc Lide myself in Tlifo; Let ttic water and the Wood, From Thy riven sido wliich flowed, lie of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power. Nothing in my hand I hring ; Simply to lliy cross I cling ; Naked, come to Theo for dress ; Heli)less, look to Thee for grace ; Foul, I to the fountain fly ; Wash me. Saviour, or I die ! While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyelids close in desith, "When I soar to worlds unknown. See Thee on Thy judgment thr ue, Rock of Ages, cleft ' r v Let me hide m^ ^ee. TIIK SISS'KR AM) II IS SAVIOril. 147 CHAPTER XXVI. ** Notwithstanding the {,n'eat niul glorious fact of Christ's death for guilty man, it is iiotoriouH tluit many anxious inquirers find it to be a laborious and dcspairiuf^ work to find true peace — peace which the world can neither give nor yet take away. Almost daily we meet with Hearcliing, struggling, sorrowing souls, whom the Holy Spirit has convinced of sin, but who arc blind to the only source of such deliverance. And why ? because, almost in every instance, they look into their own sinful hearts, instead of looking into the kind, loving, sympathising, and com- passionate heart of God. God is Love, and ' God so loird the u-orhl that lie t/are his onhj Jieijotteu Son, that wfiosoEVKu believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John iii. 10). Anxious sinner, contemplate God in the light of His own truth. Satnn and self-will only continue to keep you in bondage. The truth must make you ' free.' The more you gaze at your own cold heart, it will become worse and worse. Oh, why so fond of your- self? Why so desirous to have some satisfaction uithiii. be/ore you come to Jesus ? Why wait, and weep, and wail, and waver so lony ^ TheJ'inilt is all your own. Turn your thoughts to the Word of God. * Uehold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.' Api)ro- priate that Saviour's blood and righteousness — it was shed for your sins. The * whole world ' was ransomed ; there- fore see that all your sins are atoned fur by * the bleeding Lamb of God.' His ' righteousness is unto all and upon all them that believe.* Are you afraid to rest upon His r^ U8 THE SINNER AM. LIS SAVIOUR. f :■ perfect, finished work ? Are you afraid to trit.st His per- fect, undying love ? Is your faith weak ! Well, but it is the love and ivotk of yoiu- Saviour that < lives peace. Your faith niaij be as a grain of * mustard seed,' and yet you may pass from death to life. Receive Jesus as your own dear Lord, and rest contentedly in His prevailing inter- cession. 'Whosoever believetu i'j Him shall never perish.' Have you little love to Jesus ? Perhaps you think that if you felt more love to Him, you would then enjoy a greater sense of pardon and peace. Ponder His divine love, for it has a height and depth, a length and breadth, which pass ' knowledge.' Gratitude will well from your solaced spirit when this immeasurable love is daily considered. Peace will be whispered in your ear as you meditate on the crucified Jesus bearing your trans- gression. Pardon will be granted the moment you are satisfied with the atonement made on Calvary for your sin. Oh that precious blood, that priceless ransom, that peer- less Saviour ! His voice may well calm our fears, His Word assure our hearts, and His work bind us to Himself for ever. Look ever to Jesus." — The Day Star. The great Pliysician now is noar, The Kympatbising Jesus, He spcalis the tlrooi. ng heart to cheer, Oh, hear the voice of Je«us. Sweetest note in seraph song, Sweetest name on mortal tongnc, Sweetest carol Over sung, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Through Him your sins are all forgiven, Oh, hear the voice of Jesus ; In peace go on your way to heaven. The rest and home of Jesus. THE S;iSXER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 140 All filory to the dyinpj Lamb I I now believe in Jesus ; I love the blessed Saviour's name, I love the name of Jesus. His name dispels our Ruilt and fear, No other name but Jesus ; Oh, how my soul delights to bear Tbe precious name of Jesus. Aad when to the bright world above We rise to sec our Jesus, We'll sing around the throne of love His name, the name of Jesus. The Kev. Joseph Belcher, D.D., the biograplier of Dr. Carey, the pioneer foreign missionary, says : " None of my readers will expect to find anything very marvellous in the circumstances of the death of Dr. Carey. He rested on the atoning sacrifice of Christ for salvation, and laboured in the cause of Him who died for sinners like himself, humbly expecting mercy — sovereign and free — when he came to die. . , . On one occasion to a visiting minister he said, 'I cannot say I have any very rapturous feelings ; hut I am confident in the promises of the Lord. I wish to leave my eternal interests in His hands — to place my hands in His, as a child would his father's ; to be led how and where He pleases. ... I am sure that Christ will save all that come unto Him ; and if I know anything of myself, I think I know that I have come to Him. . . . The cross of Christ, the atonement of tiio Redeemer, is my all-sufficient ground for joy.' " By his will he recjuested that, besides the date of his birth and death, the following two lines only should bo put on his tombstone — " A wretched, poor, and helpless worm, On Thy kmd arms I fall." I ! ! I 150 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. How sad our state by nature is I Our sin, liow deep its staius ! And Satan binds our captive minds Fast in his slavish chains. But there's a voice of sovereign grace Hounds from the sacred word : " Ho ! ye despairing sinners, come, And trust upon the Lord." My soul obeys tli' almighty call, And runs to this relief : I would believe Thy promise, Lord, Oh ! help my unbelief. To the dear fountain of Thy blood, Incarnate God, I fly ; Here let me wash my spotted soul From stains of deepest dye. A guilty, weak, and helpless worm. On Thy kindrarms I fall ; Be Thou my strength and righteousness, My Jesus, and my all. "After supper Mr. Hall became client, and I heard iiim sigli two or three times. So I said to 'uu, ' Anything the matter, Mr. Hall '? ' ♦' ♦ Yes, Master York, very much. I am in great doubts as to my state. I sometimes fear I have never been con- verted, and it distresses me exceedingly.' •'♦Why, sure, Mr. Hall, that canna be anviow. How do you think you could a preached as you did to us to- night if you hadn't a been converted ?' "'Master York, what do you consider to be decisive proof of conversion ? ' .; < Why, then, Mr. Hall, I think that if a man loves and fears God he is about right. Don't you, now ? ' •< 'Love and fear God, Master York ? I do, indeed, I do.' And then, Mr. Trestrail, how he did go on to be sure. THE SISNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 151 I never heard such tliinj^s about God Almighty before except in the Bible. He talked about our world, and then {ibout other worlds ; about the sun, and the moon, and the stars, as all made by Him ; about His wisdom and power ; aboat sin and the awful ruin it had caused ; about Gods pity and love for us poor sinners, sending His dear Son to die for us ; about pardon and life — ercrlasthuf life — that I wor indeed quite amazed like. . . . Just you think, now, that such a poor creature as I am should really ha' helped such a wonderful a man as that. Why, my dear pastor, I stood there and cried like a babby.' " — 7,V/-. Frtdeiick Trestrail in J tap. Ma;/. >ry soul, 1)G on thy guard, Tell tliousaud foos arise ; The hosts of sin are pressing hard To di-aw Thee from the skies. Oh, watch, and fight, and pray ; The battle ne'er give o'er ; Bi-nt'W it boldly every day, And help divine implore. Ne'er think the victory won, Nor lay thine ari^iour down ; The work of faith will not be done, Till thou obtain the crown. Then persevere till death Sliall bring thee to thy (!od ; He'll take thee, at thy parting breath, To His divine abode. m^ ' II i 'V ;iri i ! 152 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTEE XXVII. " ' Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the irorld.' ' The bread of hfe is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the, n-arUL' ' I am the Light of the world.' ' God was in Christ, reconcihug the world unto Himself.' * God our Saviour Avill have all men to be saved.' ' Christ Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all.' * He tasted death for cveru man J * He is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD.' Christ brought good news to every crea- ture — good news therefore to you ! Whatever the Gospel contains worthy the name * glad tidings,' is intended for yon. Take God at His word ! Rejoice with * great joy ; ' for there is good news for every one, therefore there is a Christ for every one, therefore there is a Christ for you. " His blood will either, through your faith, wash you clean ; or through your unbelief, give your guilty stuins a deeper and a deadlier dye. If you believe not, to all your other sins you add this, of rejecting God's chief gift, and disobeying God's chief command. Oh tremble, lest the solemn threatening should be fulfilled in your case — * He that despised Moses' law died without mercy : of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith He was sanetificd an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God ' (Heb. X. 28-31). " There is a Clnist for every one, and therefore a Christ THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 153 for you ! There is pardon for you ! Tire Holy Spirit for you ! The favour of God for you ! Eternal life for yon ! Jesus Christ ' tasted death for every man.' * The love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judf^e, that if one died for all then were all dead ; and that lie died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto them- selves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.' '* Believe the good news! You may, in your despondency, shut yourself out from the elect, you may shut yourself out from the church, but you cannot shut yourself out of the world — and * God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that who9o::ver believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.' " glorious word whosoever ! You cannot escape from it, reader ! Whithersoever you fly it follows you — arresis you — expostulates with you — ' Whosoever y In the darkest corner of the dungeon of despair, it finds you, and whispers in your ear, Whosoever! It is heaven's great bell calling you to tlic feast of salvation — Whosoever ! Whosoever ! Its boom swells round the whole earth, and breaks in as a reply to all your doubts. ' I'm afraid, after all, that Christ did not die for me.' Whosoever ! • I'm not one of the elect.' Whosoever ! * I cannot feel any confidence that I share in the salvation of the Gospel.' Whosoever! 'I have no love to Christ.' Mliosoevi'- ! *I was never struck down nith an overpowering sense of sin.' Whosoever ! •I've sinned away my day of grace.' Whosoever! 'I've quenched the Spirit.' Whosoever ! 'I've crucified the Sou of Got! afresh.' Whosoever ! Not because you deserve, but because you need a Saviour you are invited to trust in Him, and ' Whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life ! ' No guilt too aggravated — no heart too obdurate — • no nature too debased ! Whosoever ! None can seek iu vain. He who uttered these words to Nicodemua, also iM n ii i J 1 ' i is !{ ' I 154 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Baid, • Heaven and earth shall pass away, hut my words shall not pass away.'" — Christ for every one. By the liev, Xewmau hall. American Tract Society. " Whosoever hearcth," shout ! shout the sound, Send the hlcssod tidings all the world around ; Spread the joyful news, wherever man is found, " Whosoever will may come." " Whosoever will, whosoever will," Send the proclamation over vale and hill ; 'Tis a loving Father calls the waud'rer home : " Whosoever will may come." Whosoever cometh need not delay ; Now the door is ojjen, enter while you may ; Jesus is the true, the only Living Way, " Whosoever will may come." " Whosoever will," the promise is secure ; " Whosoever will," for ever shall endure ; *' Whosoever will," 'tis life for evermore ; " Whosoever will may come." The Rev. John Berridge, an eminently useful memher of the Church of England, through whose instrumentality many were hrought to a saving knowledge of the truth in the counties of Bedford and Camhridge, England, wrote to a friend, thus : — '* Rev. and dear Sir, — My desire and intention, in this letter, is to inform you what the Lord has lately done for my soul. In order to this, it may be needful to give a little previous information of my manner of life, from my youth up to the present time. " When I was about the age of fourteen, God was pleased to show me that I was a sinner, and that I must be born again before I could enter into His kingdom. Accordingly, I betook myself to reading, praying, and watching, and was enabled thereby to make some progress THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. un in sanctification (as I flattered myself). In this manner T went on, tliongh not always with the same dilifjfence, till about a year n^o. I thought myself in the right way to heaven, though as yet I was wholly out of the way, and imagined I was travelling towards Zion, though I had never set myself thitherward. Indeed, God would have shown me that I was wrong by not owning my ministry ; but I paid no regard to this for a long time ; imputing my want of success to th(^ naiitfliti/ hearts of vnj hearers^ and not to mi/ on'7} naiidhh/ doctrine. " You may ask, perhaps, ' What was my doctrine ? ' Why, dear sir, it was the doctrine that every man will naturally hold whilst he continues in an unregoncrato state, that we are to be justified partly by our faith, and partly by our works. This doctrine I preached for six years at a curacy wiiich I served from college, and though I took some extraordinary pains, and pressed sanctification upon them very earnestly, yet they continued unsanctified as before, and not one soul was brought to Christ. There was, indeed, a little more of the form of religion in tho parish, but not anything of the power. •' At length I removed to Everton. Here again I jiressed sanctification and regeneration as vigorously as I could ; but finding no success, after preaching two years in this manner, I began to be discouraged. Now some secret misgivings arose in my mind that I Avas not right myself. These misgivings grew strong, and at last very painful. Being under great doubts, I cried unto the Lord very earnestly — Lord, if I am right, keep me so ; if I am not right, make me so. Lead me to the knowledge of * the truth as it is in Jesus.' . . . The scales fell from my eyes immediately, and now I clearly see the rock I had been splitting upon for nearly thirty years. " Do you ask what this rock was ? It was — some secret 'i :ii I ! n I 156 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. reliance on my own world for salvation. I had hoped to be saved partly by my own name, and partly in Christ's name, though I am told there is salvation in no other name, except in the name of Jesus Christ. I had hoped to be saved partly through my own ?'orlvs, and partly through Christ's mercies ; though I am told that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of works. I hoped to mako myself acceptable to God partly through my own good works. When we are justified, it is done freely and graciously, without the least merit of ours, and solely by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ. (Kom. iii. 24.) *' All that is previously needful to justification is this, that we be convinced by the Spirit of God of oui own sinfulness (Isa. Ixiv. G) ; convinced that we are the chil- dren of wrath, by nature, on account of our birth-sin (Eph. ii. 3), and that we aYe under the curse of God . . . These are things that I was an utter stranger to before, notwithstanding all my reading, watcliing, and praji^ig, and these are things that everyone must be a stranger to, until he is made a child of God by faitli in Christ Jesus. '* And now let me point out to you the grand delusion which had liked to have ruined my soul. I saw very early something of the unholinoss of my nature, and the neces- sity of being born again. Accordingly, I watched, prayed, and fasted too, thinking to purify my heart by these means, whereas it can only be purified by faith. (Acts xv. 9.) Watching, praying, and fasting are necessary duties ; but I, like many others, placed some secret reliances on them, thinking they were to do that for me, in part at least, which Christ only could. The truth is, though I saw my- self to be a sinner, yet I did not see myself an utterhj lost .miner, and therefore I could not come to Jesus alone to save me. I despised the doctrine of justification by faith alone, looking on it as a foolish and dangerous doctrine. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ir>7 I was not yet stript of all ray righteousness — could not consider it as filthy rags, and therefore I went about to establish a righteousness of my own, and did not submit to the righteousness of God by faith (Eora. v. iii) ; I did not seek after righteousness through faith, but, as it were, by the worlis of tlie law. Thus I stumbled and fell." Faitli is not what we feel or see. It is a simple tru.'<t In what the God of love has said Of Jesus as " the Just." What Jesus is, and that alone, Is faith's delightful plea ; It never deals with sinful, self, Nor ri(]hteous self, in me. It tolls mo I am counted " d;ad " By God, in His own word ; It lells me I am " born ctijain" In Christ, my risen Lord. In that He died. He died to sin ; In that He lives — to God ; Then I am dead to nature's hopes, And justified through blood. If He is free, then I am free From all unrighteousness ; If He is just, then I am just. He is vuj righteousness. Dr. Archibald Alexander once gave the following advice to a doubting student : '* You think you jnce repented and believed. Now don't fight your doubts, go it all over again. Eepent now ; believe in Christ. I have to do both very often. Go to your room, and give yourself to Christ this very moment and let doubts go. If you have not been His disciple, be one now. Don't fight the devil on his own ground. Choose the ground of Christ's righteousness and atonement, and then fight him." " Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Ha. 14 ^^^■^fF 'l? ■ 'P I 158 TJIK SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. " If you desire salvation, and want to know what to do, I advise you to go this very diiy to tlie Lord Jesus Christ, in the first private place you can find, and entreat Him in prayer to save yoar soul. Tell Him that you have hoard that He receives sinners, and has said, ' Him that cometli unto me I will in no wise cnst out.' Tell Him that vou are a poor, vile sinner, and that you come to Him on the faith of H)3 own invitation. Tell Him you put yourself wholly and entirely in His hands ; that you feel vile, and helpless, and hopeless in yourself ; and that, except He saves you, you have no hope to be saved at all. Beseech Him to deliver you from the guilt, the power, and the consequences of sin. Beseech Him to i)ardon you and wash you in His own blood. Beseech Him to give you a new heart, and plant the Holy Spirit in your soul. Be- seech Him to give you grace, and faith, and will, and power to be His disciple and servant from this day for ever. Oh, go this very day, and tell these things to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are really in earnest about your soul." — liev. J. 0. liijle. I ueed Tliee every hour, Most gracious Lord ; No tender voice like Tliiue Can peace; afford. I need Thee, oh, I need thee ; Every hour I need Thee ; Oh, hless me now, my Saviour I come to Thee. I need Thee every hour ; Stay Thou near by : Ttm[)tati()ns lose their power When Thou art nigh. THE SISNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 15'.) CHAPTER XXVIII. " I THINK the whole Kubstance of salvation lies in the thoau;ht, that Clirist stood in the place of man. Do you mean to tell mo that I who am lost am to be saved, not throuj^li anything I do, or hope to do, but purely through what another did '> ' He can hardly believe it possible ; he will have it, he must do something; he must do this, or that, or the other, to help Christ ; and the hardest thing in the world is to bring a man to see that salvation is of the Lord alone, and not at all of himself ; that it is God's free and perfect gilt, which leaves nothing of ours to be added to it, but is given to us to cover us completely from head to foot without anything of our own. Men will conceive what God would not have them conceive, and they will not receive that which God would have them embrace. So the poor soul thinks of the Gospel, ' Certainly it cannot heal me ; ' and then he misunderstands the nature of the sacred medicine altogether, and begins to take the law instead of the Gospel. Now the law never saved any yet, though it has condemned full many in its time, and will condemn us all, unless we have the Gospel. " \i any man here should be in doubt on account of ignorance, let me, as plainly as I can, state the Gospel. I believe it to be wrapt up in one word — Suhtitniion. I have always considered, with Luther and Calvin, that the sum and substance of the Gospel lies in that word, Sub- stitution, Christ standing in the stead of man. If I un- derstand the Gospel, it is this : I deserve to be lost and ruined ; the only reason why I should not be damned is • HI i'l ? -r" ICO TIIK SINNER AM) HIS SAVIOUR. I '-^ this, that ('hrist was punished in my stead, and there is no need to cxecuto a sentence twice fur sin. On the other hand, I know I cannot enter heaven unless I have a per- fect rij,'hteoiisness ; I am ahsohitely certain I shall never liave one of my own, for I find I sin every day ; but then Christ had a perfect righteousness, and He said, * There, take my garment, put it on ; you shall stand be- fore God as if you were Christ, and I will stand before God as if I had been the sinner.' " — liev. C. 11. Sjnnycon's Sermons. I'l t >ll ^ "What Jesus is, and that alone, Is Faith's delightful plea ; It never deals with sitt/ul self, Nor riijhteons self, in me. It tells me I am ccmnted " dead " By God, in His own Word ; It tells nie I am "horn again" In Christ, my risen Lord. In that He died, He died to sin ; In that lie lives, — to God ; Then I am dead to Nature's hopes. And justified through blood. If He. is free, then I am free From all unrighteousuess : If He is just, then / am just ; He is my Righteousness. What want I more to perfect bliss ? A body like His own Will perfect me for greater joys Thau angels' round the throne. " Once when alone, she seemed anxious to unbosom every feeling of her soul. The substance of it was as follows — she expressed great satisfaction at having been enabled publicly to profess the name of the Lord Jesus : THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOVIi. Ifil )SU8: and, iu the most humiliating terms, the deep conviction she entertained of licr character as a ninner in the siujht of God ; at the same time, her perfect reliance on the righteousness wrought out for her by the Saviour, and tiie firm hope blie liad of salvation, arising from His deatl I. . . . ** 'It is for )j()u I feel ; I am going at the voice of my adorable Redeemer, who laid down His life for my sake.' .... " ' Mamma,' said she, ' if it be the will of God to de- prive yju of me, it is our duty to acquiesce, and He will support you under the trial Quitting her hands round hei neck) ; yes, He ivilJ support you.' " ' Yes, I rejoice in the idea that the Saviour was made partaker of flesh and blood, and, through death, destroyed him that had the power of death I feel sensibly that I am a sinner, and it is only from the finished work of the lledeemer that I derive any hope. I have com- mitted my soul into the hands of Jesus ; and I know in whom I have believed, and feel persuaded that He will keep what I have committed unto Him until that day.' *' She experienced the ino.st composure when she could cast herself upon Christ freely, as ' the chief of sinners,' and depend on His mercy alone for salvation. To use her own expression, * W hen I feel myself the most unworthy, I enjoy the most solid hope, because He died for sinners : on the contrary, if any self-righteous sentiments mingle with my faith, I cannot so fully perceive the value of the Divine sacrifice.' " It was apprehended she was dying, and the scene became more impressive by her exclaiming incessantly, iu an exulting strain, * Praise him, praise him, praise him ! Glory, glory, glory !' "At another time, her mother said, 'Dear saint, you wiU soon be freed from these sufi"erings.' * Speak not of I i'li tp 4r ! I,;' m tt f J 1G2 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. a ■ me as a saint, ^ she replied, 'Christ is only i)recious to me as a sinner,' ropeatiuj,' — 'A f,'uilty, wrak, and hflpless worm, On Thy kind iirnis I fall ; Be Thou my strength and righteousness, My Jesus, and my all.' ' I fool such a resting np'^-i Christ as I cannot describe.' " Death was imperceptibly making rapid advances. At eleven her mother perceived signs of death. She com- plained of extreme cold ; nnd an hoiu- after respiration became exceedingly difficult, and she requested the win- dows miglit be opened. After some severe pangs she in- quired, 'What is it, mamma? is it death?' It was an- swered in the affirmative, " Half an hour before her dissolution she was asked, ' Is Jesus still precious ? '- She replied, with considerable animation, ' Oh yes, yes ; but do not talk much — lie is, VKUY, VERY ! ' She immediately lifted up her hands in prayer, which terminated in a struggle ; then placing both hands in those of her mother, she looked at her with a smile of affection, and said, 'O mi/ iiia))nii(i ." A sliort struggle ensued, after which ^lie laid her head placidly on the pillow, as if she had fallen asleep ; her countenance assumed a most agreeable smile — her breath became im- perceptibly shorter and shorter — until her mortal life expired on Tuesday mornhig, July 2, 1822, aged seven- teen years and nine months." — Kxtract from the piibliahed Memoir of Miss Manj , Cousin to tlie Author. The subject of the above memoir was the daughter of a Baptist minister residing in the city of London, Eng- land. Those only who have a personal knowledge of the fact, can form a i)roper idea how scrupulously strict families in su(di a position arc brought up in that city. Such a thing as card-playing, dancing, attending theatres, THE SI XX En AXD HIS savjouh. UV) lliter of of the strict lit city. Iciitres, circuses, or the readiiiL,' of trashy htcrature, are not for a moment even thought of. Yet it is seen that she desired and required to be entirely ck)thed with Christ's righteous- ness, unmingled with a single thread of her own. Sister, til.!:!', wast mild and lovely, (iciitle as the summer bree/o, Pleasant as the air of evoniiif:r, When it floats among the trees. Peaceful ho thy silent slumher.— Peaceful in the <:;rave so low ; Thou no m(n'o wilt join our number; Thou no more our songs shalt know. Yet again we hope to meet thee, When the day of life is iied ; Tlien in heaven with joy to grc't tlu^e, Where no farewell tear is shed. The Scriptures use all the five senses to illustrate faith. *• Look unto me " (Lsa. xlv. 22). " How sweet are thy Y, ords to my taste ' (Psa. cxix. 108). '' If I hut touch his {:"crment " (Matt. ix. 31). " Hearetii my words, and ])elievetli " (John v. 24). " Thy garments smell of myrrh" (rsa. xlv. 8). We should "walk by faith," "live l)y faith," ** be rich in faith," and " die in faith." Hear what the eminent Scotch preacher, Haldanc, said. He raised himself a little, and distinctly repeated these words : " "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then we shall appear with him in glory." He was tlien asked if he thought he was going home. Ho answered, ** Per- haps not quite yet." Mrs. Haldane affectionately said, ♦' Then you will not leave us very soon." He replied, "To depart and to be with Christ is far better." On being asked if he felt much peace, he twice repeated, " Exceeding great and precious promises." He then said, 1G4 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. mm " But I must rise." Mrs. Haidane said, •' You are not able to get up." Ho smiled, and answered, "I shall be satisfied when I awake with his likeness." She said, "Is that the rising up you meant ? " He replied, " Yes, must rise!" and shortly afterwards expired. Why tio we mourn departing frieniTs, Or shake at death's alarms ? 'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to His arms. Are we not tending upward, too, As fast as time can move '.' Nor would we wish the hours more slow, To keep us from our Love. Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb ? There the dear flesh of Jesus lay, And left a long perfume. The graves of all His saints He blest, And softeniMl every bed : Where should the dying members rest But with their dying Head ? Thence He arose, ascending high. And showed our feet the vfny ; Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly At the great rising day. Then let the last loud trumpet sound, And bid our kindred rise : Av,-ake, ye nations underground ; Ye saints, ascend the skies. i ! THE SISSER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ur, CHAPTEE XXIX. ''Faith in Christ is to rest entirely upon the merits of Christ's precious blood, and know that pardon has been bestowed, because God has said, ' He that believeth shall be saved.' Xo angel has come from heaven to tell him that his siius have been blotted out, and that his name is now entered iuthe Lamb's book of life ; but he rests upon a testimony better than that of all the angels in heaven, even the testimony of the ' faithful true Witness.' ' He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.' Faith rests sweetly upon the work of Christ and upon the word of God, and knows that there is to be found peace and assurance for ever. " The great mistake that many make when inquh-ing after salvation, is to refuse to come as they are to Jesus. They think that they must wait for deeper convictions, for more feeling, for more love to Christ, before they come to Him. Hence thej' keep looking at their own hearts to see if any good feeling is springing up there, which might form a ground of encourngemcnt that they arc becoming more tit for going to Christ. The Bible says, ' ]]lcssed are the people who know the joyful sound.' That joyful sound comes from Calvary. It comes from the pale lips of Jesus, quivering in death, as He says, 'It is finished.' But the awakened sinner listens at the door of his heart, to hear the joyful sound come from there. But from there it never will come. There is in that heart no good thing, and no voice but that of condemnation will ever come from it. '• Dear reader, Jesus says, * Look unto Me and be f:ff' Hi ! I i! ii!l IGG THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOVR. saved.' But you say, ' I cannot go to Jesus with sucli a hard heart. I have too httle feeling, and must wait till I can get more conviction of sin.' All this arises from the pride and self-righteousness of yora- heart. Suppose that you could feel that youi' heart was growing hetter, tliat you had more feeling, and that upon making this dis- covery, that you were to begin to rejoice, what would tliis be but rejoicing in j/DiirscI/ instead of Christ ? It would only be making a Saviour of your feelings, your emotions, your penitence, instead of the Heaven-appointed Saviour."' — (Had Tidiiujs, Ixj tlie live. Itohcrt Boyd, D.D. I saw One hanging on a tree, In agonies and blood, "Who hxod His languid ovos on mo. As near His cross I stood. Sum, nev(>i: till my latest breath, Can I forget that lot>k ; It seemed to charge me with His death Thoiagh not a word Ho spoke. My conscience felt and owned my guilt, And plunged me in despair ; I saw my sins His blood liad s])ilt, And helped to nail Him there. A ^''''ond look He gave, which said, " i freely all forgive ; This blood is for tliy ransom paid, I die that thou mayst live." ** ' I long waited for such a sense of sin as would make me a worthn object of God's mercy ; but I waited in vain. I felt that it was my diiti/ to believe. I cast myself on the compassion of the Saviour, as a [xmr, blind, hardemd, hvJp- less wretch ; and that moment found joy and peace in believing.' One morning she said to her husband, * 1 have been thinking all night that there is nothing at all THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ir.7 melcinclioJy in the death of a Christian, cither to liiniself or to others. I feel reri/ lutppij m the pro.spect of death.' " — Extract from the Life of Mrs. Sarah L. Smith {Missionarii). Am.erican Tract Sucicti/. Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb ; Take this now treasure to thy trust. And i^'ive these saered ndics room To slumber in the silent dust. Nor pain nor grief nor anxious fear Invades thy bounds ; no mortal woes Can reach the peaceful sleejjer hero, "Wliile angels watch the soft repose. So Jesus slei)t ; (rod's dying Son Passed through the grave and lilest the bed. Ilest here, blest saint, tdl from His thnnio The morning break and pierce the shade. Dn\ik from His throne, illustrious ni.irn ; Attend, earth, Ifis sovereign wmd: Restore thy trust : a glorious form Shall then arise to meet the Lord. " If you are ready to he forgiven, lie is ' ready to for- give.' If you are willing to ho saved, He is willing to save you : nay, lie is come out at this moment to seelc you ; and, if you ^^ ill not coldly turn your hiick upon liim. you will, you nmst he sared." Good Kowlaud Hill when he preached from tliis text in a tair, heard a man crying out his goods, and said, *' Ah, our friends find their difficulty the very reverse of what mine is ; for they find it a great deal of trouhle to get you lip to their price, my dilHculty is to bring you down to mine" — " without money, and without price." " Sinner, remember this — iioyie ever yet ohtained an interest in Christ hut univorthi/ creatures. Was Paul worthy before he obtained au interest in Christ ? And what w^ m ;| i;^ ; 9 m 1G8 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. worthiness was in Zaccheus when Christ callotl him from the sycamore tree, and told liim that this day salvation was come to his house ? Though you are iinaortJii/, yet Christ is worthy. Though you have no merit, yet God has mercy. Though there is no salvation for ijoii by the law, yet there is ' plenteona redeinptioii' in the (Jo.sjiel.'" — T/kirkis Jifooks (1G55). '* Such, then, are man's two great wants, viewed as an immortal spirit — a want of the infinite truth, and a want of the infinite good ; a want of light and a want of love. These wants are for ever malcing themselves felt in the human consciousness in various forms. Man is like a noble tree planted in the earth, which can live only by drinking in the air and sunlight of heaven. The fall has walled him up in a dark enclosure of selfishness and sen- suality ; but as he cannot. live without light and warmth, he trios to expand his branches towards certain wretched tapers which are burning in the interior. But they are never enough for him. Without the sun he cannot thrive. ' His soul is athirst for God.' "— J)ea)i Uoulhiini. '"Tis finished ! " — so the Saviour cried, And meekly bowed Uis head and died : " 'Tis finished ! " — yes, the race is run, The battle fought, the victory won. " 'Tis finished I " — this His dying groan, Shall sins of deepest hue atone. And millions be redeemed from death By Jesus' last, expiring breath. *' 'Tis finished ! " — Heaven is reconciled. And all the jtowin-s of darkness spoiled ; Peace, love, and happiness again lletura and dwell with sinful men. THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOm. 169 i ; CHAPTER XXX. "Thoughtless sinner, 'Wilt thou be made wliolo?' If thou wilt, and thou wilt, and thou wilt, ' behold the Lamh of God ; Jesus is exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and remission of sins. Look unto him, all ye ends of the earth, and he ye saved ; for I am God, and beside me there is none else.' " It is a blessed and cheerinfi: thoudit that Jesus Chri4 is come into the world to save sinners. The Great Phy- sician walks amid the wards of the Ciirth — in the hospitals of Scutari and Balaklava. ' There is none other Name given among mankind whereby they can be saved.' * The blood of Jesus Christ cleanscth from all sin.' ' His righteousness is unto all and upon all that believe.' ' For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the ilesh, God has done by sending His own Son to be made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' It is, believe on the LonlJcsus Christ ; each word is significant ; all the Bible is significant. Believe in the Lord, who has power; in Jesus, who saves from sin ; in Christ, who is anointed to do so. Are you terribly ruined ? you have an Almigiity Saviour to go to. Are you a great sinner ? you have a Saviour, Jesus, to go to. Are you afraid He will not save you ? He is anointed for that very purpose. Just as it is the duty of the physician to prescribe, and of the lawyer to plead, it is of Jesus to save. As it is the function of the sun to shine, the rivers to roll, the earth to move, the trees to grow, it is the function of Christ to save. And when you go to Jesus, 'fill rll I i ^1 ff;( .■I ill i^f m ']'■ I ! 170 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. and ask Him to save you, you ask Him wliat He has graciously undertaken to do ; and Avlien Ho bows tlie heavens to save the chiefest of sinners, Ho gathers the greatest glory to HiraselF. " ]jut do you ask, ' Is it so easy to be saved ; is salvation so accessible as this ? ' Salvation is, in one word, trustful submission to Clnist as your Triest, 3'our Sacrifice, your Prophet, your Kini; ; and that acceptance, that submission, is now or never. I"] very day tliat you reject the Gospel fits you for rejecting it more easily next day, till at last you are left to a hardened heart of unbelief. To show how easy and accessible that Gospel is, hear what the Saviour says : * Whosoever is atJiirst, let him come unto me and drink.' But you answer, * Ah, but I am not athirst.' Well, to meet your case, he says, ' If any man icill, let him come unto me.' But you answer, ' Ah, but I have not a willing heart.' Then He says, 'Him that co)ii(th unto me' — whether you be athirst, or whether you have a willing heart or not — ' I will in nowise cast out.' Let me remind you again of what that great man — one of the greatest men of his day — so frequently remarked ; I mean Howels, of Long Acre : ' If you cannot go to Christ on feeling, go to Christ on principle,' that is to say, ' I do not feel my need of Him, I do not feel my wants as I ought ; but I am satisfied He is the only Saviour, that I am the greatest of sinners ; and therefore I go to Him as I am, praying to Him as He is, satisfied that " him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out. -lu'r. John Ci(in»ii)u/, D.D. Lord JosuR, I loiip; to be porfectly avIioIo, I want Tliec for ever to live in my soul ; Break down every idol, cast out every foe ; Now wash mc, and I shall be whiter than snow. Whiter than snow, yes, whiter th;m snow, Now wash mc, and I shall bo whiter than snow. has tlio 5 tllG THE SIXXFJl ASn HIS SAVIOUR, 171 Lord Josns, lot notliinjj; uiihdly remain, Apply Thine own hloml und cxtrmt every stiiin ; To get tliiri blest clc^ansini,' I all things fi rego : Now wash nie, ami I shall bo whiter than snow. Lonl Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat, I wait, blessed Jjord, at Thy crueitied feet ; I'y faith for my cleiinsing, I s(M' Tliy blood flow : Now wash mo, and I shall bo whiter than snow. Lord Jesus, Thou seost I patiently wait ; Come now, and within me a new heart eieate. To tliose who have sought The(\ Tlion never saidst No Now wash mo, and I shall be whiter than snow. " * AVlicncvcr I opened my Uiblo, I found it filled Aviili threateiiii]f,'s n,!:^aiiist me. I found also that it demanded true and unfeigned Hubmission to God, as the only condi- tion on Avhicli salvation would he granted. I attended many meetings, hut they only served to augment my distress, and if possible to increase my opposition. For severnl weeks I almost entirely relinquished business, and spent my time principally walking in my chamber. "Wlion- ever I heard of any person's obtaining a hope, it was like adding fuel to the fire. My heart rose against it and ac- cused God of exercising partiality with His creatures, not considering that He has a right to do what Ho will with His own. "'These exercises continued until August, when the terrors of hell seemed to compass me about. From Tues- day the Gth to Wednesday the 14th, it appeared to mo that I stood on the very confines of destruction, and was permitted to look into the eternal ^ orld. But it pleased the great and merciful God not to keep me long in this painful situation. On Wednesday, the 14th of August, I attended a lecture, when a sermon was preached from John iv. 49, " The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, como I l.< r,; , i-S .1 .^1 m ■i m ii \ f r§ 1 ill' i \^ \ " i ■'1 •'■ 172 THE SIXXER AXD HIS SAVIOUn. down, crc my child die." Upon hearing these words and their explanation, I found my heart glowing with the most ardent love towards the Haviour. He appeared to bo " the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogctlier lovely; " every way suited to my necessities. Tears flowed without control. The language of my heart was, my dear Saviour, come and take an everlasting possession of my soul. I bid thee a hearty welcome to my heart, and would lie low at Thy feet for ever. My emotions were so great that I found it diflicult to keep from immediately kneeling upon the floor, and extending my arms where I then was, in the meeting-house. I had no idea that this was con- version. I returned home, and, without mentioning any- thing to the family, retired to rest as usual " ' But instead of this the character of God Himself now came into view, and filled my soul with joy, love, and gratitude, woi:der and admiration, to that degree that bodily strength failed ; and for some minutes I became almost insensible to surrounding objects. Upon recover- ing myself, I found that everything around me wore a new aspect. The glory of God appeared to be visible in every part of creation. I saw the hills, mountains, and fields, all lying beneath the omniscient eye of God, and answer- ing the great end for which they were created, the glory of God. And now the thought occurred, Shall man, who is the noblest part of creation, be silent ? This was an amazing thought. I stood like one astonished at myself. Why had I never thought of this before ? I now saw that I had indeed been wilfully blind, and that it would have been just in God had Hp left me to my ow^n chosen way. I now began to imagine that this might be conversion. But I had many doubts about it, because that during all these exercises I had strangely forgotten myself. These doubts were, however, soon removed, when I found that I all THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. it; J was entirely williug that God shonlcl tlis])osc of mo, for time and eternity, as lie saw best and most for His j,'lory. And oh, what heartfelt joy did it give me to reflect that I was in the hands of (Jod. It was like an anchor to my soul.'" — K.vtracts fydtii the Ijife af Jtroiiidh HallocI,-. I'lih- lishcd hi/ Ainerivan Trart Socictij. " Let none of my readers inia;j;ine that the process of con- viction here describcvl is desit^ned as a standard for their experience ; or that I would limit the Holy One of Israel to the same way and manner of workinj,' on the minds of sinners, when He brings them to know themselves, their state, and their danger. Some He enlightens in a more gradual way, and draws them to Christ by gentler means, as it were with the cords of love ; while Ho strikes con- viction in the minds of others as with a voice of thunder, and sudden as a flash of lightning. They are brought to the very brink of despair, and shook, as it were, over the bottomless pit. Nor have wo any business to inquire into the reasons of this ditl'erence in the Divine conduct." — Iiei'. Abraham Booth. ** Ho was in his eighteenth year when his brother died ; and if this was not the year of his new birth, at least it was the year when the first streak of dawn appeared in his soul. . . He stated that there was nothing sudden in his case. . . The Holy Spirit carried on His work in the subject of this memoir by continuing to deepen in him the pollution of his nature. . . At first light dawned slowly." — Extract from Memoir of Rev. Robert M. McL'he)/>u\ by Rev. Andrew A. Bonar. " ' Dear young friend,' replied the pastor, 'you say, "I do not feeW Bo you feel that there has been a deluge upon the earth ? Yet you are sure of it, simply because God tells you so ? Do you feel that Jesus is the Son of God ? And yet you are sure of it, because God tells you t i; 1 1' ' tma IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 .L' lis us. M 2.0 14 III 1.6 <^ ^ r ^^^> '%^^ A 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WiST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. MS80 (716) 873-4503 ,\ ■1>^ A \ A* '9> UVO -^" V^-.1^ ^Y ■t\ ' \'. i .1! 174 THE SINXF.n AXD HIS SAVIOVR. Ko in His Word. If, then, tlic same true God, in the same true "Word, tells you that whosoever helieveth in Him, " is passed from death unto life," and that he is a cliild of God, why v.ill you reply to God, " I am not sure, although Tliou tellest me so, for I do not feel it '? " This, certainly, did not Luther, who relates, if I. mistake not, in a private letter, that Satan having said to him, " Martin, (luijonfecl that you are a child of God ? " answered shortly, " No, but I am sure of it. Get thee behind me." ' " — U(V. C. Mulan, D.D. God moves in a niystcridus way, His woiuU'is to i)orfoiui ; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Yc fearful saints, fresh courage take ; The clouds-^e so much dread Are hi^ witli mercy, and shall break ^Vith bkhsing on your head. Jnd^'c not the liord by feeble sense, But trust II ill! lor His gnice ; Behind a frowning providence Ho hides a bmiling faee. His purposes will ripen fast. Unfolding every hour : Tiie bud may have a bitter taste, But Bwcet will be the llower. Blind imbelief is siu'c to e»T, And scan His work in vaiu ; God is His own inttriireter, And He will make it plain. THE SINSElt AND HIS SAVIOUR. iO CHAPTER XXXI. *' Last of all, you sinners hero this morning, ^Yllo liave licarcl all about this salvation by trusting ; I charge you do not rest till vou have trusted the Lord Jesus Clirist, and rested in tlie great promises of God. Here is one : ' I will be merciful to their unrigliteousness, and their slos and their ini(|uities will I remember no more for ever.' Here is another wliich is very cheering : ' "Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be savoLl.' Call upon Him in prayer, and then say, ' Lord, I have called, and thou hast said I shall be saved.' Here is another gracious word : ' He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.' Attend thou to these two commands, and then say, ' Lord, I have Thy word for it that I shall be saved, and I hold Thee to it.' Believe God, sinner. Oh that He would give thee grace this morning by his Holy Spirit to say, ' How can I do otherwise than believe Him ? I dare not doubt Him.' poor tried soul, believe in Jesus so as to trust thy guilty soul with Him. The more guilty thou feelest thyself to be, the more is it in thy power to glorify God, by believing that He can forgive and renew such a guilty one as thou art. If thou liest buried like a fossil in the lowest stratum of sin, yet He can quarry for thee and fetch thee up out of the horrible pit, and make thy dry, petrified heart to live. Believest thou this '? ' If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.' Trust the promise that He makes to every believer that He will save him, and hold thou to it, for it is not a vain thing, it is thy life. * But what if I obtain P Is 170 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. !l '^h s:; i no joy or peace ? ' Believe the promise still, and joy and peace will come. ' ]3ut ^vllf^t if I see no signs ? ' Ask for no signs, be willing to trust God's word without any other guarantee but his truthful character, and thou wilt thus give Him glory. ' Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.' Believe that Jehovah cannot lie, and as He has promised to forgive all who believe in Jesus, hang on to that word and thou shalt be saved. Sinners, I have set before you the way of salvation as simply as I can, will you have it or not ? May the Spirit of God sweetly lead you to say, ' Have it, ay, that I will' Then go in peace, and rejoice henceforth and for ever." I gave my life for thee ; My precious blood I shed, That thou mightst ransomed be And quickened from the dead. I gave my life for thee ; >Vhat hast thou given for Me ? I spent long years for thee, In weariness and woe, That an eternity Of joy thou niightest know ; I spent long years fo." thee Hast thou spent one for Me ? My Father's house of light, My rainbow-circled throne, I left foi- earthly night, For wand'rings sad and lonfi ; I left it all for thee ; What hast thou left for Me ? I suffered much for thee. Much more than tongue can tell Of bitter agony, To rescue thee from hell ; I I ore all this for thee ; What bast thou borne for Me ? iii' THE SIXS'Kn AND HIS SAVIOUR. 177 Lord, let luy life ho given, Ami everj' moment spent. For (rod, for bouIh, for heaven, An<if 8ll Pflrth'H ticK be rent. Tliou Rftv'st Thyself for me, Now I give all for Thee. Dr. Palmer, the evftngelistso well known by the present generation, both in Europe and America, thus wrote with reference to the denth of hia wife and co-labouror : — *' On one occasion she said to her husband, * I am fully saved. I have not a single doubt. Hallelujah to God and the Lamb ! I am within speaking distance of my liome in paradise. You have been the kindest of husbands to me, and our love has been abiding, and it shall abide for ever.' " And when blindness came, and she could not see at all, she said, ' Oh what sweet nurses I have I Josus was left all alone in His last agony ! ' "Wlien they read to her the promises of God's word, she said, ' Put my name on these promises ; ' aid ever after that, when the promises were read, it was with the name of « Plioebe Palmer ' attached to them. *' Again she said, ' Hallelujah ! Precious ! [ am pass- ing through the valley, but without a shadow, trusting in Jesus. Oh 80 weary ! how I should like to go ! But Tliy will be done, not mine. I thought before this the light of eternal day would dawn upon me, but it has not yot dawned ! ' When a daugliter said, * Do you see, mamma ? ' she said, * I see no one but Jesus ; but I sliill soon see the King in His beauty. Glory be to the Father ! Glory be to the Son ! Glory be to the Holy Ghost ! ' When they bathed her hands she said, * I shall soon bathe my hands in the life-giving waters.* morning, as she woko up, she said, 'I 'o» ' \ '■- ''t' ,■* ri ''■'i«5 t HI m I I :a i 178 THE SL\NER AM) HIS SAVIOUR. thought I saw the chariot, so gloriouH ! <,'lorioiis ! • O (Iciith, where is thy stiiig ? grave, where is thy victory '? TJianks he unto God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Passing after this into a condi- tion of (quietude, her sun set in serenity and boauty." Tlierc is a Iftud mine eye liatli 8( en In visions of eiiriii)lureil thought, So hright thut uU which spreiuls hetweeu Is witli its radiant glory fraught. A hiiul upon whose hlissfiil shore There rests no hlmdow, falls no stain ; There those who nui't shall i)art no more, And those long parted meet again. Its skies are net like earihly skies, With varying hues of shade and light ; It hath no need of suns to rise To dissipate tiie gloom of night. There sweeps no desolating wind Across that calm, serene abode ; The wanderer there a home may find Within the paradise of God. " For if thou lift up thy tool upon it (the altar) thou hast polluted it ' (Exod. xx. 25). Jesus said, " It is FixisuKD : and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost " (John xix. 80). " Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin. . . by whose stripes ye were healed " (1 Peter ii. 24). The apostle Peter, bear in mind, was a "believer," and he was writing '* to thern that had obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God our Saviour and our Lord Jesus Chr st," and not to unbelievers. Reader, are you a believer ? Have you read this and not profited ? " Christian faith, ' says an American writer of genius, TIIK SIS N Eli ASD HIS SAVIOUIi. na 1 'O itory ? irougli coutli- ir) tliou " It is ghost" iu liis . . by The he was IS faith 3ur and Reader, •ofited ? genius, ). **i8 a grand cathedral with divinely-pictured windows. Standing without, you see no glory, nor can possibly imagine any ; standing uitJdn, each ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendour." The Rev. Samuel Pearce, A.M., writing to Dr. Ryland, closes thus : " Oh, the height, the depth, the length, the breadth of redeeming love ! It conquers my heart, and constrains me to yield myself a living sacrifice, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." " Oh ! at this moment, • there standeth one among you whom yo know not.' Do you not see Him ? He is close by you. Do you not feel Him ? He is actually speaking to you. Do you not hear Him asking, * "Wilt thou bo made whole ? ' But think you that He comes for less than to seek and to save that which is lost ? • And can you, as one of the lost, be here for less than to be saved by Him ? Oh, open the door of your soul, and He will come in unta you — will make your conscience His seat, your heart His altar, your regenerated spirit His living temple. And iu that day when He shall sm'round Himself with all the trophies of His grace, you shall be present as a miracle of His saving power."— Dr. John Tlanis, '* The way to life is a very short one. There are but two steps to it. First the sinner ' comes to himself (Luke XV. 17), and sees what he is, viz. a sinner. Second, he comes to Christ (Matt. xi. 28), and sees what He is, viz. a Saviour. (1 Tim. i. 18 ; iv. 10.) Salvation is in the Word. (Rom. x. 8.) You come to Christ by believing His Word. Believing (with the heart, Rom. x. 9, 10) that you are a sinner, — thr.»j is repentance. Believing (with the heart) that Christ is a Saviour,— that is Faith. Where faith and repentance unite in the same person, there is a CHANGE OP HEART. * Lord, make mo to know myself,' this is your fii'st petition. * Lord, make me to know Thee,' 18 < i '1 i 'ml m m ffig.H'^^y' i i 1< I ■ «■" '•■■ i !' 180 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. this is the second. God grant that both these petitions may be made and answered." — Iin\ George JJtiffield, jun. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Thy quickening powers ; Kindle a flame of sacred love In these cold hearts of ours I Look, how we grovel here below, Fond of these trifling toys ; Our souls can neither fly nor go, To reach eternal joys. In vain we tune our formal songs, In vain we strive to rise ; Hosannas languish on our tongues, And our devotion dies. Dear Lord ! and shall we ever live At this poor dying rate : Our love so faint, so cold to Thee, Aud thine to us so great ? Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Thy quickening powers ; Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, And that shall kindle ours. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ! Praise Him, all creatures here below I Praise Him above, ye heavenly host ! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! THE SINSEIl AXD HIS SAVIOVR. 181 f CHAPTER XXXII. I>f order to avoid monotony, \s'e •* sandwich " in here a chapter which has no direct hearing on the subject in hand, and will not, we trust, he in any way detrimental to it. It contains two most interesting incidents in the life of the late Abraham Lincoln, while he was President of the United States. We copy them from " Six months at the White House," by F. B. Carpenter. *« The Hon. Orlando Kellogg, of New York, was sitting in his room at his boarding-house one evening, when one of his constituents appeared, a white-headed old man, who had come to Washington in great trouble, to seek the aid of his representative in behalf of his son. His story was this : The young man bad formerly been very dissipated. During an absence from home a year or two previous to the war, he enUsted in the regular army, and, after serving six months, deserted. Returning to his father, who knew nothing of this, he reformed his habits, and when the war broke out, entered heart and soul into the object of raising a regiment in his native county, and was subsequently elected one of its officers. He had proved an efficient officer, distinguishing himself particu- larly on one occasion, in a charge across a bridge, when he was severely wounded, his colonel being killed by his side. Shortly after this, he came in contact with one of his old companions in the * regular ' service, who recog- nized him, and declared his purpose of informing against him. Overwhelmed with mortification, the young man procured a furlough and returned home, revealing the 1'^ i *?1 m itfr.' ' hyy^ k I fi 9 ^ . !i I It ■-. ■ i ]83 T//E SIGNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. matter to his fatLor, and declaring his purpose never to submit to an arrest, ' he would die first.' In broken tones the old man finished his statement, sayinj:j : ' Can you do anything for us, judge '? it is a hard, hard case ! ' ' I will see about that,' replied the representative, putting on his hat ; * wait here until I return.' He went immedi- ately to the "White House, and fortunately finding Mr. Lincoln alone, they sat down together, and he repeated the old man's story. The President made no demonstration of particular interest until the judge reached the description of the charge across the bridge, and the wound received. * Do you say,' he interrupted, * that young man was wounded ? ' * Yes,' replied the congressman, ♦ badly.' * Then he has shed his blood for his country,' responded Mr. Lincoln, musingly. * Kellogg,' he continued, brighten- ing up, • isn't there something in Scripture about the "shedding of blood" heing *'the remissici of sins?" * Guess you are about right there,' replied the judge. * It is a good "point," and there is no going behind it,' rejoined the President ; and taking up his pen, another * pardon ' this time without * oath,' condition, or reserve, was added to the records of the War Office. ** No incident of this character related of the late Presi- dent is more profoundly touching in its tenderness and simplicity than that given to me the last evening I passed at the "White House, in the office of the private secretary, by a resident of Washington, who witnessed the scene. " *I was waiting my turn to speak to the President one day, some three or four weeks since,' said Mr. M , * when my attention was attracted by the sad patient face of a woman advanced in life, who in a faded hood and shawl was among the applicants for an interview. " * Presently Mr. Lincoln turned to her, saying in his accustomed manner, " Well, my good woman, what can I THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUn. 1«3 vor to jroken « Can jase ! ' (utting nmedi- ig Mr. ted the [ition of sription jceived. [in %Yas badly.' jponded righten- out the sins?" le. at rejoined pardon ' IS added e Presi- ess and [ passed cretary, cene. ent one M , ent face ood and g in his it can I do for you this morning?" " Mr. President," said she, "my husband and three sons all went into the army. My husband was killed in the fight at . I get along very badly since then, living all alone, and I thought I •would come and ask you to release my oldest son." Mr. Lincoln looked into her face a moment, and in his kindest accents responded, ** Certainly ! certainly! If you have given us all, and your prop has been taken away, you are justly entitled to one of your boys ! " He immediately made out an order discharging the young man, which the woman took, and thanking him gratefully, went away. " * I had forgotten the circumstance,' continued M , * till last week, when happening to be here again, who should come in but the same woman. It appeared that she had gone herself to the front, with the President's order, and found the son she was in search of had been mortally wounded in a recent engagement, and taken to a hospital. She found the hospital, but the boy was dead, or died while she was there. The surgeon in charge made a memorandum of the facts upon the back of the President's order, and almost broken-hearted, the poor woman had found her way again into Mr. Lincoln's pre- sence. He was much affected by her appearance and story, and said : ** I know what you wish mo to do now, and I shall do it without your asking ; I shall release to you your second son." Upon this, he took up his pen and commenced writing the order. While he was writing, the poor woman stood by his side, the tears running down her face, and passed her hand softly over his head, stroking his rough hair, as I have seen a fond mother caress her son. By the time he had finished writing, his own heart and eyes were full. He handed her the paper ; ♦* Now," said he, *' you have one and / one of the other two left : that is no more than right." She took the paper, and re- .11 II ^*TT n I pi 184 TUE SISSER ASD II IS SAVIOVIi. verently placing her hand again upon LL iicad, the tears still upon her cheeks, said : ** The Lord bless yon, Mr. Lincoln. May you live a thousand years, and may you always be the head of this great nation." ' The following is the greater portion of President Liu- coin's favourite hymn — Oh ! why should tho spirit of mortal he proud ? Like a swift-HoetinK meteor, a fast-flying cloud, A flash of the lightuing, a break of the ware, He passetb from life to his rest in the gravo. Tho leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade, Be scattered around, and together be laid ; And the young and the old, and the low and the high. Shall moulder to dust, and together shall lie. « « * • The hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne, The brow of the priest that the mitre hath worn, The eye of the sage, and tlie heart of the brave, Are hidden and lost in tho depths of the grave. [The saint, who enjoyed the communion of Heaven, The sinner, who dared to remain unforgiven. The wise and the foolish, the guilty and just. Have quietly mingled their bones in the dust.] So tho multitude goes — like the flower or the weed That withers away to let others succeed ; So the multitude comes — even those we behold, To repe^vt every tale that has often been told . • • « « The thought we are thinking, our fathers would think ; From the death we are shrinking, our fathers would shrink ; To the life we are clinging, they also would cling; But it speeds from us all like a bird on the wing. They loved — but the story we cannot unfold ; They scorned — but the heart of the haughty is cold ; \ They grieved — but no wail from their slumber will come ; They joyed — but the tongue of their gladness is dumb. THE SIS'SEIi AXD HIS SAVini'R. 185 They diod — ay, thoy died ; — we things that arc now, That walk on the turf that hes over their brow, And make in their dwellingn a transient abode, Meet the things^ that were mot on their pilgrimage road. Yea ! hope and despondency, pleasnre and pain, Are mingled together in sunshine and rain ; And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge, Still follow each other, like surge upon surge. 'Tis the wink of an eye — 'tis the drangui f a breath— From the blossom of health to the palene •.. of death, From the gilded saloon to the bier and .ho shroud — Oh 1 why should the spirit of mor* '• be proud? What a pity that such a man witli such tastes should die within a theatre ! U If I must die, oh, let me die With hope in Jesus' blood. The blood that saves from sin and guilt. And reconciles to God. If I must die, oh, let me die In peace with all mankind. And change these fleeting joys below For pleasures more refined. If I must die — and die I must — Let some kind seraph come. And bear me on his friendly wing To my celestial home. Of Canaan's land, from Pisgah's top, May I but have a view : Though Jordan should o'erflow its banks I'd boldly venture through. • m^ IBB 180 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. CHAPTER XXXIII. << ( li Come unto unto me,' He cries — and oli, what soul feels not the divine harmony of those words ! — * Come unto Me ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.' " Such, my dear reader, is faith. Do you ask me how you are to do this ; how you shall come into such a state of trust and repose in Christ ? I answer, Bi/ an art of the Will. Faith, as truly as repentance, is a product of vo- lition, under the influences of the Divine Spirit. It is indeed, as the apostle declares, * the gift of God,' as the entire process hy which a soul is enlightened, renewed, and saved, is the work of His grace. But while this theo- logical truth is never to be questioned or lost sight of, it is not that which just now most practically concerns you. Faith, though divinely wrought, is a human, act. You are first to look at Christ ; to see His adaptation to all your wants, and His multii)hed and explicit promises, and you are then, by an act of choice, distinctly and formally to TAKE Him to be your Saviour, your all. If distress for sin weighs upon you, you are to say, * I will not be burdened by it, since the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin.' If you are anxious because you do not feel as you wish, you are to say, * I will not yield to anxiety, since Christ has promised me all I need.' If perplexed with difficulties of doctrine, you are to say, * I will not weary myself with them, for Christ will teach me all I need to know.' If so- licitous for your future steadfastness in right, you are to say, * I will not be afraid, " for I know whom I have believed, THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOUH. 187 H and am xiersuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. ' ' Thus faith is the voUtion of an intelHgent mind. It is the de- liberate act of a penitent sinner, in the conviction of his own need and the Saviour's sufficiency, depositing himself with all his interests in the open hands of Christ. *Bat is this all?' the anxious sinner may ask. 'Have I nothing to do but just give up all to Christ, and then do nothing ? ' Yes, this is all. Such is the gospel — so free, so simple in its requirements. ' But must I not do something to prepare myself for Christ's reception ? ' No, nothing. You can do nothing. Only j)ut away your sins by repentance, and come just as you are. ' But am I to have no more solicitude for myself, no anxiety about my salvation ? ' No, none at all. Christ will take the entire care of you. You need never ^hink of the question of your salvation again. It is yours only to serve ; it is His to save. Shed not another tear ; indulge not one de- sponding look; lie like the slumbering babe, in sweet oblivion of care, on the bosom that loves you. Feel your- self encircled by His faithful arms, and let His promises, beaming with unutterable tenderness, shed into your heart His own holy peace. "How simple, then, and how gracious the conditions of salvation ! There is no price to pay ; there is no reward to bring ; Christ has paid all for yoa, and salvation is yours as a gratuity. * Whosoever will let him take the water of life freeli/.' Nothing could be more free or simple than this. Nothing can be cheaper than a gratuity ; nothing easier than a simple trust. Oh, how truly is the gospel good tidings of great joy I How confidently may every heart-broken sinner come at once to Christ, and find that peace which ' passeth all understanding ! ' " — *^How to Believe;' by Rev. G. P. Warren. 'j'R i •1^' tl rfff I I maw— Hi 188 THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Come, ye souls by sin afflicted, Bowed with fruitless sorrow down ; By the broken law convicted, Through the cross behold the crown. Look to Jesus ! look to Jesus ! Mercy flows through Him alone, Blessed are the eyes that see Him, Blest the ears that hear His voice ; Blessed are the souls that trust Him, And in Him alone rejoice. Take His easy yoke and wear it. Love will make obedience sweet ; Christ will give you strength to bear it, WTiile His wisdom giiides your feet Safe to glory ! safe to glory ! Where His ransomed captives meet. Sweet as home to pilgrim weary, Light to newly opened eyes ; Flowing springs in deserts dreary. Is the rest the cross supplies. ** • I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this — " I the chief of sinners am But Jesus died for me ! " One said, * Is this the present language of your heart, and do you now feel as you did at Bristol ? ' He replied, * Yes.' Then was repeated to him — "Behold I approach the eternal throne. And claim the crown through Christ mine own." He earnestly rei)lied, * He is all ! He is all ! ' '•In the evening he got up again, and while sitting in his chair, he said, * How necessary is it for every one to be on the right foundation ! " I the chief of sinners am, t >■ •But Jesus died for me ! " ' Once in a low, but very distinct voice, he said, * There is no way into the holiest but by the blood of Jesus Christ.* iLi lA THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 180 in his be on He afterwards inquired what the words were on which he preached at Hampstead a short time before. He was told they were these : * Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.' He replied, * That is the foundation : there is no other.' He also repeated three or four times, in the space of a few hours, • We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.' ♦* Tuesday, March the Ist, he began singing — * All glory to God in the sky And peace upon earth be restored : O Jesus, exalted on high, Appear our omnipotent Lord ! Who meanly in Bethlehem bom. Didst stoop to redeem a lost race ; Once more to Thy people return, And reign in Thy kingdom of grace.' Some time after he said, * I want to write,' but, on the pen being put into his hand, and the paper before him, he said, * I cannot.' One of the company answered, * Let me write for you, sir ; tell me what you w'ould say. * Nothing,' replied he, * but that God is with vs.' In the afternoon he said, *I will get up.' While they were bringing his clothes, he broke out in a manner which ay- tonished all present, in these words — • I'll praise my Maker while I've breath, And when my voice is lost in death. Praise shall employ my nobler powers , My days of praise shall ne'er be past While life, and thought, and being lust, Or immortality endures.' When he got into his chair, he appeared to change for death ; but regardless of his dying frame, he sang — If n it. ,)J 'h • 1^ HP' I'o Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Who sweetly all agree.' &o. .lH.B..W.'.T.JJHlf..i,l»Lim 190 THE SINNER AND II IS SAVIOUR, Here his voice failed bim, and after gasping for breath, be said, * Now we have done ; let us all go.' He was then laid on the bed from which he rose no more. A person coming in, he strove to speak, but could not. Finding they could not understand him, he paused a little, and, with all the remaining strength he had, cried out, * The lest of all is, God is icith us.' And then, lifting up his dying arm in token of victory, and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph, not to be expressed, he again repeated the heart-reviving words, * The best op all is, God is with us.' On Wednesday morning Mr. Bradford prayed with him, and the last word he was heard to articulate was * Fareicell ! ' A few minutes before ten, while several of liis friends were kneeling around his bed, without a linger- ing groan, this man of God entered into the joys of his Lord." — Life oj Ilev. John Wesley. The following lines written by Cowper, on the death of the Rev. George Whitfield, are eq[ually appropriate to the death of Wesley : — *' He loved the world that bated him ; the tear That dropped upon his Bible was sincere ; Assailed by scandal, and the tongue of strife, His only answer was — a blameless life : And ho that forged, and he that threw the dart. Had each a brother's interest in his heart. Paul's love of Christ, and steadiness unbribed , Were copied close in him, and well transcribed ; He followed Paul — his zeal a kindred flame. His apostolic charity the same : Like him, crossed cheerfully tempestuous seas, Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease : Like him, he laboured, and, like him, content To bear it, suffered shame where'er he went." '• * But (says one sufferer) I am in the dark.' ** 1 answer, never stick at that. It is most bravely done, THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. in to trust God with my soul in the dark ; and to resolve to serve God for nothing, rather than give out. Not to see, and yet to believe ; to be a follower of the Lamb, and yet to be at uncertainty what we shall have at last ; argues love, fear, faith, and an honest mind, and gives the greatest sign of one that hath true sincerity in his soul. It was this that made Job and Peter so famous, and the want of it that which took away much of the glory of the faith of Thomas.'' — John Bunyau. I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace ; Might more of His salvation know, And seek more earnestly His face. I hoped that in some favoured hot r At once He'd answer my request ; And, by His love's constraining power, Subdue my sins, and give me rest. Instead of this. He made me feel The hidden evils of my heart, And let the angry powers of hell Assault my soul in every part. Tea, more — with His own hand He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe ; Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my hopes, and laid me low. " Lord, why is this ? " I trembling cried — " Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death ? " •' 'Tis in this way," the Lord replied, " I answer prayer for grace and faith. " These inward trials I employ. From self and pride to set thee free ; And break thy schemes of earthly joy. That thou mayest seek thy all in Me." 1 I ; i ' i m ::'f lli'ti m ^^•.^! done, W i 192 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. i « n ! hi* CHAPTER XXXIV. *',When man sinned against God, God's justice required that man should die. The Bible says, ♦ Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book bf the law to do them ' (Gal. iii. 10) ; and, ' Whosoever offendeth in one point is guilty of all' (James ii. 10). One sin, therefore, would make even an angel a sinner, and the wrath of an offended God would rest upon him on account of it. One theft would make a thief, one murder would make a murderer; and so one sin would make a sinner, even though he were never to commit another. "How, then, could man escape the curse of God, and yet God's justice be satisfied ? There was but one way—God's Son must die or else all men must perish. "Without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin, and there was no other blood but His that was able to atone for it. " But supposing that an angel, or any other creature, could have atoned for sin, even that could not save us, unless he could also change our hearts, and give us a new and holy nature. This none but the Spirit of the living God could do ; and, therefore, none but the Son of God could be our Saviour. Yet God so loved us, that he did not spare His only begotten Son, but freely gave Him up to the death for us all. (John iii. 16 ; Eom. viii. 32.) '* Jesus, therefore, came into the world to die for sinners. The Lord of Glory became a Man, taking the form of a servant, to obey Goti. 3 law for us, and to suffer the punish- ment of our sms. He bore the torments of God's wrath in the garden of Gethsemane, and shed His blood on the. . THE SINSER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 193 iners. of a mish- rrath In the. cross to make an atonement for sin. The justice of God being thus satisfied, He rose from the dead, and sent forth His disciples into all the world to preach the Gospel ; pro- mising that, whosoever would believe in His name, should not perish, but have everlasting life. " Here, then, is the Gospel ; Jesus Christ, the cntcijied, with blood sufiBcient to atone for tlie sins of the whole world — Jesus Christ, the riyhteoiis, with merit sufficient to take the whole world to heaven — Jesus Christ, the mu/htj/ Oodf whose living spirit could raise the whole world to life — offers Himself to you. 1= <( Yes ; but though the gate be a strait one, it is open, and not shut ; and the striving is not with the keeper of the gate, but with your oivn evil heart of unbelief, that struggles hard to prevent you from going in. The door is strait, but it is wide enough to let the sinner through, if lie will not attempt to carry any of his idols in with him. He would fain make a compromise by giving up first one sin, and then another ; but, until he is willing to part with ALL his sins, he cannot enter. Perhaps the very last thing that he is willing to part with before entering is his own righteousness ; he would fain enter with some rag of his own to cover him, but it is impossible : no wonder, then, that it is called a strait gate, for it is too strait even for that." — Hev. James Gall, Edinburgh, Jesus, my Lord, to Thee I cry, Unless Thou help me I must die ; Oh, bring Thy free salvation nigh, And take me as I am ! CUORDS. Take me as I an;i, Take me as I am ; Oh, bring Thy free salvation nigh, And take me as I am ! m 11 1h4. m m ■ I ' * ? I 194 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Helpless I am, and full of guilt, But yet for me Thy blood was spilt, And Thou canst make me what Thou wilt, But take me as I am ! — Chokus. No preparation can I make, My best resolves I only break. Yet save me for Thine own name's sake, And take me as I am ! — Chorus. I thirst, I long to know Thy loTe, Thy full salvation I would prove ; But since to Thee I cannot move. Oh, take me as I am ! — Cnonus. If Thou hast work for me to do. Inspire my will, my heait renew. And work both in and by me too, But take me as I am !— Chorus. And when at last the work is done, The battle o'er, the vict'ry w^on. Still, still my cry shall be alone, Lord, take me as I am ! — Chorus . K\'i ** Mrs. Penney was a thoroughly devoted woman. Her happy and triumphant death may well bespeak the cha- racter of her hfe. On his last visit to see her, the -VNiriter found her in a state of unconsciousness, in which she had been lying for forty-eight hours ; but while standing at her bedside her consciousness suddenly returned, and seeing him looking at her, she exclaimed, * Sing, oh, sinrf, Mr, Pearce.* On being asked what he should sing, she re- plied, ' Jesus 1 love Thy charming name,* and on the tune being raised, with uplifted hands clasped together, she joined us in a clear strong voice, singing the verse through; and then halting for a moment, she led off the last verse Kt , THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 195 of the hymn with her hands still clasped, her eyes fixed, looking upward, singing, — ♦ I'll speak the honours of Thy name With my last labourmg breath, And dying, clasp Thee in my arms. The antidote of death.' Her hands then suddenly fell, her eyes closed, and within ten minutes her spirit had fled to be for ever with the Lord whom she had loved, and for whom she had spent her life." — Evaiif/elical Lecoril, Calcutta. Her le cha- writer lie had at her 1 seeing Mr, |ho re- le tune ^r, she rough; verse They arc gathering homeward from every land. One by one. As their heavy feet touch the shining strand. One by one. Their brows are enclosed in a golden crown, Their travel-stained garments are laid down, And, clothed in white raiment, they rest in the mead Where the Lamb loveth His chosen to lead, One by one. Before they rest, they pass through the strife, One by one. Through the waters of death they enter life. One by one. To some are the floods of the river still, As they ford on their way to the heavenly hill ; To others, the waves run fiercely and wild, Yet all reach the home of the undefiled. One by one. We, too, shall come to the river's side. One by one. We are nearer its waters each eventide, One by one. We can hear the noise and dash of the stream. Now and again through our life's deep dream ; Sometimes the floods all their banks o'erflow, Sometimes in ripples the small waves go. One by one. 14 : . . I- .: U 't|| it 'S w, h { Tf I I i! ! f I: t I !; ■ !; m I i I m [,'■11 (11 196 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Jesus, Redeemer, we look to Thee, One by one. , We lift up our voices tremblingly, One by one. The waves of the river are dark and cold, We know not the spot where our feet may hold ; Thou who didst pass through in deep midnight, Strengthen us, send us Thy staff and Thy light. One by one. Plant Thou Thy feet beside us as we tread, One by one. On Thee let us lean each drooping head. One by one. Let but Thy strong arm around us bo twined, We shall cast our cares and fears to the wind. Saviour, Redeemer, with Thee full in view, SmiUngly, gladsomely, shall we pass through. One by one. *'An anxious inquirer went to bis minister, when the following dialogue took place : Inquirer. * What shall I do to be saved ? ' Minister. * Believe on the Lord Jesus ChruitJ Inq. ' I have heard that before, but it does not appear sufl&cient in my case.' Min. * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Inq. * Have I not first got to repent ? ' Min. * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Inq. * Should I not pray first ? ' Min. • Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Inq. * It seems to me impossible to thus savingly beheve without Divine aid. How am I to obtain such aid*?' Min. * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Inq. * I cannot think such treatment altogether courteous, when you must know that I am most anxious about my soul.' Min. * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Inq. * If you persist in ignoring all my questions, I will bid you * good-bye.' Min. « Good-bye, good-bye. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shaltbe saved,' '' THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 197 len the shall I Jesus oes not he Lord pent ? ' lould I Christ: believe aid?' cannot ►u must MiN. rsist in d-bye.' I Jesus *' Heaven is now full of souls, once sinful, who were saved in this way ; and they are now ' without fault before the throne of God ; ' and on earth there is a great multi- tude to-day who have been saved by the Lord Jesus, and are now on their road to a glorious heaven." — Uvlifjious Tract. Jtsus, I will trust Thee ! AVhen across my soul, Lika a fearful tempest, Doubts and fears shall roll. When the tempter cometh, Surely he will flee "When I tell him, " .Tesus, I am trusting Thee ! " Jesus, I will trust Thee ! There is none beside ; In Thy anns of mercy I will ever hide ; And for my acceptance. This my only plea — • " Jesus died for sinners, Jesus died for me ! " Jesus, I will trust Thee ! Trust Thee even now. Trust Thee when the death-dew Gathers on my brow ; Tnist Thee in the sunshine, Trust Thee in the shade ; With Thy precious shelter, I am not afraid ! Jesus, I will trust Thee For I cannot doubt ; "Him that cometh, surely I will not cast out " — Thou, Christ, hast promised, So I come to Thee, Bringing that sweet promise As my only plea ! I J if %\ 198 THE SIKSER AND HIH SAVIOUR. CHAPTER XXXV. !l H ii "TuE word * Gospel * means pood news, glad tidinrfs. It is not therefore the Gospel, for it is not good news, that we must either save or help to save ourselves by our works ; for we never did, nor can we, do a single work that could bear the examination of a holy, heart-searching God, in whose sight the very heavens are not clean. And therefore St. Paul says, * By the deeds of the law there shall no jieah be justified.' ** It is not good news that we must be saved partly by the good works or intercessions of others. They have been all sinners as we are, and if saved at all, were saved through the blood of Christ alone ; for St. Paul says, that * all have sinned.' And ' the wages of sin ' — yes, of a single sin — * is death ; ' while ' the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' " It is not good news that we may be the children of God, and in a state of grace to-day, and the children of wrath to-morrow ; for then we could not have peace, but should continue full of slavish fear : but the Gospel was intended to give settled peace at:a joy to the sinner's soul. And thus St. Paul says, * Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' And again, * Rejoice in the Lord alway.' " But the true Gospel of Christ is indeed good news, cheering to the heart. For what does the poor sinner want? Does he -wtLnt forgiveness? The Gospel says, *We have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.' Does he want to be cleansed from his sins ? The THE SINSER AXD HIS SAVIOVn. 190 news, sinner 'We mess of The Gospel says, * The blootl of Jesus Christ clcamcth us from all sin.' Does he want to be countccl riifhtcous before God ? Tho Gospel saj's, * To him that worketh not. but believcUi on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousucss ; ' even as Abraham, who * believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.' Does he want salvation ? The Gospel says, * If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thino heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt .1;c mved.' DoeB he waut n'erlastiiiff life? The Lord Jesus Christ says, ' He that believcth on Me hath everla.stiurj li/c* Does he want to be kept until the end ? Christ says, ' My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me : and I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.' " The Gospel is indeed good news. The Gospel, and tho Gospel alone, can remove slavish fear from our hearts, and give us peace with God. This only can take away the natural enmity of our hearts toward God, and give us either desire or strength to serve Him ; and when we believe it, it produces love in our hearts toward Him. * We love Him, because he first loved us;' so loved us as to give His Son to die for us, ' the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.' We become his children ; as St. Paul says, ' Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus ; ' members of His blessed family for ever. Believhuj this, we shall seek our Father's glory, do our Father's will, go about our Father's business : and knowing that we are not our own, but bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ, we shall seek to glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which are God's. *' Search the Scriptures, whether these things be so." — Precious TrutJts, i ■ nr 200 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVTOUR. 4 One glance of Thine, eternal Lord, Pierces all nature through ; Nor heaven, nor earth, nor hell afford A shelter from Thy view ! Since, therefore, I can hardly bear What in myself I see, How vile "Tid black must I appear, Most holy God, to Thee ! But since my Saviour stands between, Who washed me in His blood, 'Tis He, instead of me, is seen When I approach to God, Thus, though a sinner, I am safe ; He pleads before the throne As advocate on my behalf. And calls my sins His own. *' The snow was deep and still falling ra^ndly, when, in the first year of my Christian ministry, I hastened to see a young woman die. It was a very humble home. She was an orphan ; her father had been shipwrecked on the banks of Newfoundland. She had earned her own living. As I entered the room I saw nothing attractive. No pictures ; no tapestry ; no cuchioned chair. The deep snow on the window casement was not whiter than the cheek of that dying girl It was a face never to be forgotten. Sweetness and majesty of soul, through faith in God, had given her a matchless beauty, and the sculptor who could have caught the outline of those features and frozen them into stone, would have made himself immortal. With her large brown eyes, she looked calmly into the great eternity. I sat down by her bedside and said, *Now, tell me all your trouble, and sorrows, and struggles, and doubts.' She re- plied, * I have no doubts or troubles. It is all plain to me. Jesus has smoothed the way for my feet. I wish when THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. 201 you goto your pulpit next Sunday, you would tell the young people that religion alone will make them happy. " death, where is thy sting ? " Mr. Talmage, I wonder if this is not the bliss of dying ?' I said, * Yes, I think it must be.' I lingered around the couch. The sun was setting, and her sister lighted a candle. The canuh was lighted for ME. The dying girl, the dawn of heaven in her face, needed no candle. I rose to go, and she said, ' I thank you for coming. Good-night. When we meet again it will be in heaven — in heaven. Good-ni/jht ! fjood-nif/ht ! good-mijht I ' For her it was good-night to tears, good-night to poverty, good-night to death, but when the sun arose on the morn- ing it was good-morning. The light of another day had burst in upon her soul. Good-morning! The angels were singing her welcome home, and the hand of Christ was putting upon her brow a garland. Good-morning ! Ker sun rising, her palm waving, her spirit exulting before the throne of God. Good-morniwj 1 Good-morning'.'' — Extract from a Sermon bjj rwv. T. Dc Witt To.lmarje, ' i Oh ! have ye not marked ou the lips of the dying, When praises have fluttered in life's latest gale, Wlien the blood-streams of life in their fountains were drying And the cheek once so blooming was death-like and pale, That the righteous hath hope in his death ? For the brightness of joy on his spirit is beaming, The lights of heaven's splendour his bosom illume, And \ isions of bliss on his rapt soul are streaming, The visions that gild the dark vale of the tomb, For the righteous hath hope in his death. And, hark ! o'er his pillow, to sooth him while dying, Angelic harps welcome his spirit away ; 'Tis past, and the soul enfranchised is flying, On wings of swift seraphs, to re'/ons of day — Oh, the tiilil'>ous hath ht';je in his death !" i: : ( w ■ t 4': 202 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. " Mr. McDonald asked the inhabitants of the island of St. Kilda how a man must be saved. An old man replied, * We shall be saved if we repent, and forsake our sins, and turn to God.' ♦ Yes,' said a middle-aged woman, * and with a true heart too.' • Ay,' rejoined a third, * and with prayer ;' and, added a fourth, * It must be the prayer of the heart.' ' And we must be diligent, too,' said a fifth, *in keeping the commandments.' Thus, each having contributed his mite, feeling that a very decent creed had been made up, they all looked and listened for the preacher's approbation, but they had only aroused his deepest pity. The carnal mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can work and become great, but the Lord's way is quite the reverse. Beheving is not a matter of merit to be gloried in ; it is so simple that boasting is excluded, and free grace bears the palm. Do you think God's way of salvation too easy ? Why then do you not attend to it ? To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely, upon Christ Jesus." — Rev. C. H. Spurgeon's ' Evenituj by Evening ' (Oct. 5th.) Captain Hedley Vicars, while in Canada, in the year 1851, read in his Bible these well known words : **Tho blood of Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Closing the book he said, "If this be true for me, henceforth I will live by the grace of God, as a man should hve who has been washed in the blood of Christ." ♦* If we cannot go to God with a broken heart, let us go to Him /or one. The Spirit breaks and binds J' "A man may get into the church without Christ, but he cannot get into heaven without Christ." " The way of salvation is the highway of the King of kings, and a highway is always free to all. Though the entrance gate is a 'strait' one, it is a gate^ and it is un- locked." THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUB. 20S (( ( Whosoever ' and * whatsoever ' are two most iDrecious words and were often in the mouth of Christ. ' Whosoever will may come.' * Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I do.' * Whosoever ' is on the outside of the gate and lets in all who choose to enter. ♦ Whatsoever ' is on the in- side and gives those who enter the free range of all the region and treasury of grace. * Whosoever'' makes sal- vation free, and * whatsoever ' makes it full." — Professor Patje. *' Christ is not valued at all, unless He is valued above all." " Adam broke the first link of the chain, and thereafter all mankind fell from God." "Moses demands obedience, Jesus seeks transfiressors. What qualifies for the one, disqualifies for the other. . . . There is no cup of poison more deadly than that mingled cup of law and grace, of works and faith, which is often presented to man, instead of the Gospel of the grace of God ! Yet men do willingly j)ut it to their lips, and seek to satisfy their consciences thereby." — Choice Sayiiitjs, When wounded sore the stricken soul Lies bleeding and unbound, Ono only hand, a pierced hand, Can salve the sinner's wound. Vain and futile the endeavour To improve, or add thereto ; God's free grace is thus commended — To "believe," and not "to do." All the doiTiff is completed, ' Now 'tis " look, believe, and live ; "' None can purchase His salvation. Life's a gift, that God must give ; Grace, through righteousness, is reigning. Not of works, lest man should boast ; Man must take the mercy freely, Or eternally be lost. ■ ; i' ^t.|i. Si. :'f!i ii F^fin 204 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. A'. n \-< -,1 CHAPTER XXXVI. " Do not think yourself too guilty to be pardoned. Do not think that the door of mercy is shut against you — that only vengeance -w aitetli for you ! No ! sinner, God is love ! He loveth you / Do not picture Him as a Being delighting in anger — He delighteth in mercy. He was not appeased by Christ; He was a God of love from the beginning. Because He loved the world He himself sent His Son. And will He love sinners less now He has done so much to save them ? You perhaps say, * But I have hated God, can He love me?' Jesus said 'The world hated Me,' yet He said, * God so loved the world ! ' Yes, you may have hated God till this moment, but He loves you and waits to save you if only now you will believe His word ! There is hoi)e for you yet ! Y'^our Heavenly Father waits to receive His wandering child yet ! He has sent His well-beloved Son to invite you home ! There is pardon for yon ! There is heaven for you ! Do not despair ! Despair ! when we have a God of mercy and a redeeming Christ alive ? For shame, forbear. Oh ! so long as we are where promises swarm, where mercy is proclaimed, where grace reigns, and where the worst sinners are privileged with the first o£Fer of mercy, it is a base thing to despair. Despair under- values the ability of God the Father, and the redeeming blood of Christ His Son. Oh, unreasonable despair! I would say to my soul, * my soul ! this is not the time to despair in : as long as mine eyes can find a promise in the Bible, as long as there is the least mention of grace, as long as there is a moment left me of breath or life in this THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 205 world, so long will I look for mercy, so long will I fight against despair.' The Lord Jesus Christ bids thee look and live ! Look to Him as did the wounded Israelites to the serpent of brass — look and live ! Stung by the devil, incurable by human skill, look to Him whose wounds can heal — look and live ! Dead by the sentence of the law, look to Him who on thy behalf satisfied the claims of law — look and live ! Dreading bodily death, as the gloomy portal into death eternal, look to Him who by dying conquered death — look and live ! As the brazen serpent, so the cross, while reminding of the curse, proclaims that the curse is conquered, the serpent slain. Struggling, fainting sinner! look to that emblem of victory — look and live!'' — 7?<?i'. Xeiiman Hall. 1 There is life for a look at the Crucified One, There is life at this moment for thee ; Then look, sinner, look unto Him and be saved, Unto Him who was nailed to the tree. It is not thy tears of repentance and prayers, But the blood that atones for the soul ; On Him, then, who shed it, believing at once Thy weight of iniquities roll. We are healed by His strijics ; — wouldst thou add to the word ? And He is our Righteousness made : The best robe of heaven He bids thee put on ; Oh couldst thou be better arrayed ? Then doubt not thy welcome, since God has declared, There remaineth no more to bo done ; That once in the end of the world He appeared ; i And completed the work He begun. But take, with rejoicing, from Jesus at once The life everlasting He gives, And know with assurance, thou never canst die, Since Jesus, thy Righteousness, lives. ■lii ' F 206 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 'H "To a friend he wrote: — 'Believe me, your letters are far from fatiguing me, even in my greatest weakness; they tell me of Jesus, who was crucified, the only cordial for my drooping soul.' To his physician he writes, * I have no heart to take your medicines ; all but Christ is to me unprofitable; blessed be God for pardon and salvation through His blood. Let me prescribe this for my dear friend. . . . My cough is very troublesome ; I can get but little rest; but my never-failing remedy is the love of Christ.' He then adds — ' The Gospel bears my spirits up, A faithful and unchanging God Lays the foundation of my hopes, In oaths, in promises, in blood.' As he had often conversed with his friends through life of the love of Christ, it still continued his favourite theme. Whenever a friend of Mr. Romaine's, who was much with him, came into his room, he would begin to talk of the love of Christ, and of the great things He had done for him, until his breath failed him. As soon as he had recovered himself a little, he would proceed upon the same sweet subject, so that he might have truly applied to himself the words of the prophet, ' My mouth shall be telling of thy righteousness and of thy salvation all the day long, for I know no end thereof.' * I am now,' said he, ' reduced to a state of weakness, and given over by my physician. My grand consolation is to meditate on Christ, and I am hourly repeating these heart-reviving lines of Dr. Young — " This, only'this, subdues the fear of death : • And what is this ? Survey the wondrous cure, And at each step let higher wonders rise ! Pardon for infinite offence ! and pardon Through means that speak its value infinite ! A pardon bought with blood ! with blood divine ! With blood divine of Him I made my foe I Persisted to provoke ! though wooed and awed, u THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 207 Blessed and chastised a flagrant rebel still ! A rebel 'midst the thunders of the throne ! Not I alone, a rebel universe ! My species up in arms ! not one contempt ! Yet for the foulest of the foul He died ; Most joyed for the redeemed from deepest guilt, As if our race were held of highest rank, And Godhead dearer, as more kind to man ! " ' "The atonement of Jcsiis was his darling theme, after he knew the grace of God in trust ; and in the appropriating views of this he solaced himself in his dying hours. In this medium death and the grave to him, as a redeemed sinner, were divested of all their gloom ; a future judgment appeared to be a joyful solemnity, eternity a delightful, boundless object of pleasing expectation and desire, "He thought the following verse very suitable to his present case : — ' A tree is now the instrument of life, Though ill that trunk and Christ's fair body suit ; Ah, cursed tree ! and yet O blessed fruit ! That death to me, this life to us doth give Strange is the cure when things past cure revive, And the physician dies to make the patient live, ' *' To his curate he declared that the fear of death was taken from him. * Oh,' said he, ' what has Christ, how much has Christ done for me ; how little have I done for so loving a Saviour ! ' These words were accompanied with tears. He proceeded, ' Do not think I am afraid to die ; I assure you I am not. I know what my Saviour hath done for me ; I want to be gone ; but I wonder and lament to think of the love of Christ in doing so much for me, and how little I have done for Him. . . . The Gospel is offered to me, a poor country parson, the same as to his Grace ; Christ makes no difference between us. Why, then, do ministers thus neglect the charge of so kind a Saviour, fawn upon the rich and great, and hunt after \?> r m i i- 208 THE SIXNER AND HIS SAVIOVIt. worldly preferments with so much eagerness, to the dis- grace of our order ? No wonder the service of our church is become such a lifeless thing, since it is, alas ! too generally executed by persons dead to godliness.' . . . ** The doctor, seeing the difficulty with which he spoke, and finding that the pangs of death were then coming on, desired him that he would spare himself. * No,' said he, with peculiar ardour, * doctor, no ; you tell me I have but a few minutes to live, oh let me spend them in adoring our great Redeemer! .... "All are yours, whether life or death, things present or things to come." * Here,' said he, * is the treasure of a Christian ; death is reckoned among this inventory, and a noble treasure it is ! How thankful I am for death, as the passage through which I go to the Lord and giver of eternal life.' "About three o'clock he said, 'The conflict is over; now all is done ; ' after wliich he scarcely spoke any other word intelligibly, except ' precious salvation.'' — Brown's Life of Eev. James Harvey. Not a care is hovering o'er me, Not a shade is on my brow, For my soul is stayed on Jesus, And my trust is in Him now. Yes, sweet Savi^.^r, Thou art with me, And I revel in Thy love, For I know, complete in Thee, Lord, I shall dwell icith Thee above. Many dear ones I am leaving, Yf £ I '• part without a care,'' Fo7 I pray — whilst they are grieving — That they all Thy grace may share ; That with me in yonder glory They may see Thee face to face ; And with multitudes adore Thee, For Thy free and wondrous grace. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR . m Not a care is hovering o'er me, For I am complete in Thee, Soon I'll sing the rapturous story Of Thy matchless love to me. ** Whoever believes in Jesus, regards Him as the only Saviour from Divine wrath; which presupposes a con- viction of Bin, and of its awful tendencies. Nay, we are led, by the language of Scripture, to consider believing in Christ, as * fleeing to the hope set before us,' that we may escape * the wrath to come ' (Heb. v. 18 ; Matt. iii. 7). That conviction of sin and sense of danger should not be considered^ however, as inducing God to give, hut as inclining us to receive : not as exciting the Father of Mercies to forgive our offences, or the compassionate Jesus to justifg our p 'sons ; hut as impelling us to accept the provision which sovereign grace has made for the entirely destitute/' — Rev. Ahraham Booth, **Do not suppose that by anything you can suffer, or anything you can do, you can bring God under any obligation to save you. Sinners sometimes persuade them- selves that they are doing all their duty, and that if they are not then saved, the fault is in God, and not in themselves. ... He who entertains such notions as these may be sure that the Spirit of God has already almost deserted him." — Rev. F. Wayland. '* This salvation is God's work, God's provision, God's gift, God's everlasting covenant in all things well ordered and sure. The ' way ' to its attainment is in a simple, grateful, trusting acceptance of the offer and the Saviour who is offered, with a loving, believing heart; receiving Him as the object, the author, and the finisher of our hope ; the one chosen portion of our soul, the treasure we most of all desire, the living and beloved friend in whom we are i f :» i i liF^ 210 THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. rich, we are full, we are reigning as kings; for whom we ■willingly exchange all other objects and claims, and in the fulness of whose love and power we can be happy for ever." — The lUustratecl Weehbj, Says one, *' There is a Christ for every sinner out of hell, and a hell for every binner out of Christ." f. il Come, humble sinner, in whose breast A thousand thoughts revolve, Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed, And make this last resolve : •' I'll go to Jesns, though my sin Hath like a mountain rose ; I know His courts, I'll enter in, Wliatever may oppose. •' Prostrate I'll lie before His throne. And there my" guilt confess ; I'll tell Him I'm a wretch undone. Without His sovereign grace. " I'll to the gracious King approach, Whose sceptre pardon gives ; Perhaps He may command my touch. And then the suppliant hves. " I can but perish if I go ; I am resolved to try ; For if I stay away, I know I must for ever die. " But if I die with mercy sought. When I the King have tried. This were to die (deUghtful thought As sinner never died." j'A THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 211 CHAPTER XXXVII. '* The Lord Je^us Christ became a substitute in the room of such as you and I. We ought to be punished for our ini- quities, for all our wicked deeds and wicked thoughts, for our pride and' highmindedness, for our self-will, and for our temper, and for all those things ; but the blessed Lord Jesus has the punishment for all our sins laid on Him, He stood instead of us, and in our stead endured the torment, anguish, and punishment we ought to have borne through- out eternity. He became a real man, and really bore the punishment. But not only was it necessary that He should be a man. He must be Divine, in order to give value to the sufferings ; and all the woe, the misery, and anguish which ought to have come upon us throughout eternify was con- centrated in that time when the Lord Jesus hung upon the cross. He came into the world to save sinners, to deliver them from hell, from the power of sin, to translate them into His own kingdom. And now you see what the sinner has to do — to depend upon Jesus for salvation. We have not to go to Paris, or to Bath, or to Bristol ; here, in this very place, in this very hour it is to be had. No money to be paid for it, but only to accept what God in His wondrous grace and mercy has provided in His dear Son. If we do this we shall obtain forgiveness of sins, shall be accepted by God, shall be justified, shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and have heaven at last. Now how many are ready to receive this blessing ? Who will say, * These are good news ; I will accept them ? ' Or will you slight them ? The vilest, the most hardened, 15 H 212 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 'I the most wretched, may even now obtain the full blessing through Jesus. ^« 5)5 I,! I,C I,? T,t i,i ♦* Have I ever asked myself, * What must I do to bo saved ? ' What is the answer ? Some perhaps will say, We must pray. Prayer never saves, and never will save. Another may say I must read my Bible. Reading the Bible never will and never can save. Another will say, I must go to a place of worship. But that will not save us. Another will say, I must keep the commandments of God ; I try to x)lease God. That never will save. The trying to save yourself by keeping the commandments would only add sin to sin, and increase your guilt. What then is to be done in order to be saved ? We have to do nothing ourselves. Salvation depends altogether upon another, upon the Lord Jesus Christ whom God sent into the world to save us. Salvation ' is wrought out already, accom- plished already, and all we have to do is to receive salvation according to the riches of His grace, as provided for the guiltiest, the oldest, the vilest, the most hardened sinner. As the beggar opens his hand when a kind lady or gentle- man offers him something, so we should open our hands to receive the blessing God has provided for the salvation of our souls. And the way of receiving the blessing is to put our trust in Jesas, co depend on the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls, which is commonly called in the Scriptui'es — believing. I ask. Do you beheve in the Lord Jesus Christ ? Do you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of your souls ? If you do, your sins are forgiven, you are the children of God, you are brought on the road to heaven, you are born again, you will go to heaven at last — through believing in Jesus, through putting your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. But without trusting in the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ THE SISNER AND HIS SAVIOUH. »$ you can never have these blessings. I am afraid there are many who have not yet asked themselves this question, * What must I do to be saved ? ' What must / do ? The first point is / — / — I. That / am saved — that )ny sins are forgiven — that / am born again — that / am a child of God. Until this is so, everything else is nothing. The most momentous matter is this, that your soul is safe. There is not a single child here, there is not a single person in this large city, who may not have salvation if they seek it in God's way, which is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." — lUr. Gcortje Midler. **Desiri'^g to record His goodness and mercy, I would note down the last words of my sainted child. A few nights previous to her death, my darling awoke, and turning to me, said, 'Was not that a nice quiet sleep, mamma ? " Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise bim all creatures bere below," Ac' Again she said, * Mamma, I have a great deal to say to you, but am not able, but I love to hear you talk.' At one time she threw her arms around my neck, and sobbing said, ' my dear mamma, I hope I shall not grow up and be unkind to you.' Many such sweet expressions of grateful love and tender affection called forth my tears, which she always endeavoured to suppress. •' In the morning of the last sad day, she opened her eyes, and looking earnestly at me, she said — ' " Jesus sougbt me wben a stranger, Wandering from tbe fold of God ; He to save my soal from danger, Interposed His precious blood." ' And also — ' " Safe folded in my Saviour's arms, I'm safe from every fear." ' I kissed my darling, and rejoiced in this testimony. When i '>'\< ■'if ii .\ 214 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUB. P i:' I asked her did she not love Jesus more than her mamma ? she was at first silent. When I repeated the question, she replied, ♦ I hope when God is going to take me, He will enable me to do so.' I asked my child what gave death a sting ? She replied, * Sin.' * What then, my darling, takes away the sting ? ' Immediately she answered, * The blood of Christ.' Her breathing towards evening became most painful ; but no word of impatience escaped her lips, her countenance was serene, and bcre a sweet smile when she spoke to me. About nine o'clock she turned to me and said, * Dear mamma, take me in your arms, and lay me in the arms of Jesus.' I replied, * my beloved child, you are already safe in your Saviour's arms; you do not fear death ? ' ' Oh no,' she replied — * " Safe folded in my Saviour's arms," ' A'c. AVhen I observed she would soon be before the throne of God, she added, ' Yes, mamma, and He will wipe away all tears from my eyes,' and — '"I Bhall sing the song of grace, And \iew my glorious hiding-place." ' . . . Then sweetly turning to me she said, 'And now, good-bye, my dear mamma, kiss me.* I stooped to kiss her dear lips ; she clasped her arms around me, and pouring out her little heart in prayer, said, * God Almighty bless you, my dear mamma, and all my brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles ; and a great many friends whom I cannot name now ; and oh grant that I may meet them all before the throne of God, and that they may all know Jesus Christ, whom to know is eternal life ! ' and her arms di-opped for a time. . . . Then looking toward me several times, * Mamma, I am praying for faith and patience.' Seeing her fall back, and, as I then thought, about to draw the last labouring breath, I put up my hands and my heart to God, blessing him that my child was Hisj and not vnne. She THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 218 opened her eyes, and, with the most lovely smile, she said, * Ah, mamma, I am yours yet.' . . . Her face became con- vulsed, her eyes fixed ; she talked rapidly, and after a most bitter conflict, she triumphed over the enemy of souls, crying out every moment, ' Yes, I am in Christ's arms, and I am now in mamma's arms, and we are both in Christ's arms, and we are going to God's throne.' Then naming all around her bed, she fixed her dear expiring eyes, beam- ing with tenderness, on me, and said, ' I am in mamma's soft arms ; now I am laying my head on mamma's breast ; now I see Christ — the. a He is ! ' pointing her little hand upwards. * See that star, mamma ; you know it is in the Bible. Now 1 am coming to Christ ; and we shall all be with Christ, and before Christ's throne.' With these words, * I am going to God's throne,' her tongue faltered, her eyes closed, the conflict ceased, her happy spirit was dismissed from her suffering body, and she entered into eternal rest." The above is taken from an old copy of the Christian Guardian ; it being a record of the death of Miss Sophia Hoare, written by her mother. Tarry not, Lord, any mi "c, we pray, Come for us. Saviour iu j,loty • Hasten the long looked for break vt day, i'inish the night's dark story. Oh, come and call us home, Eaisiug Thy saints that arc sleeping ; Come Lord and take us home. Ending for ever our weeping ! "Weary are we of our sin, dear Lord, Weary of grieving Thy Spirit ; Panting for purity, lif;lit, ard peace, Yearning the rent u '.^t erit. Hopeless we gaze on the chaos around, Strife, sin, and hk.hvw unending. Vainly we wait for the promised sound. Thy shout when fri m heaven descending. I i I rw^ ; •fl 1: ■I W:^ ; f 216 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Help us to cling to the promise, Lord, Patieut, with faith all unshaken ; Help us to strive for the bright reward, Help till from earth we are taken ! " While there have been few additions to the Church here below, there have been large numbers to the Church above during the past year. The father of a large family of sons, and one of the first converts of the Grande Ligne Mission in that place, has been left almost alone. Tije foul disease, small-pox, preyed upon them in such a virulent manner that in a few weeks eight of his children, all of them members of the Church, were carried away. But if it was extremely sad to see the poor fellows thus drop one after the other, in the prime of life and the strength of manhood, it was also comforting beyond expression to see their victorious faith and to hear their words of con olation to the bereaved and mourning ones around them. Their complete surrender to the will of God, their trust in the love of the Heavenly Father and in the perfect work of Christ, was so beautiful to behold, that even the pestiferous abode was scarcely a barrier to visitors who came to it as to the loathsome earthly gate to heaven. Catholics and Protestants came to the house of disease, suffering, and sorrow, to learn how to die, and to hear the testimony of the departing ones, so full of life only a few days before." — Extract from the Thirty -ninth Report of the Grande Ligne Mission, Quebec. Nearly all Bible truths are two-sided ; and are, by the unthinking, often called *' contradictory." We may rest assured that all the money coined in God's mint will pass current at heaven's gate. Any one of the mor.y promises contained in God's Word will most certain!; ei)curp ctady admittance into the ♦' Paradise of God." lu ilglOTid dys- wmm THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. 217 I dys- peptics should avoid *' strong meat," and diet exclusively on "milk," such as was recommended by Paul to the Corin- thians. Eemember that the " word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart ; that is, the word of faith, which we preach ; " and that •* faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God ; " and " If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed," and " confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, pnd shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead" — what follows? why this — " THOU SHALT BE SAVED." " For God SO lovod the world that He GAVE his only begotten Son " for this express purpose. Practise your faith — so to speak — on these simple truths, and then try this one : ** Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me " — now do you thus believe ? if so, hear what follows — ♦* HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall uot come into condem- nation ; but is passed from death unto life." Ever remember that the foregoing words were uttered by Christ Himself, and if tliey fail to allure or " constrain" you, we would place behind you a more powerful incentive than had the Israelites at Pihahiroth to "go forward," namely this : *• he that believeth not, shall be damned." And " if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha " [accursed). ♦' That deep distress, arising from the fear of hell, is not required of any, in order to have peace with God ; for such distress does not belong to the precepts of the law, but to its curse. Terrifying apprehensions of eternal punish- ment are no part of that which is required of sinners, but of what is inflicted on them. There is indeed an evan- gelical sorrow for sin, that is our duty; which is com- manded, and has promises annexed to it: but legal terrors, proceeding from the curse of the law, not from its precept; expressing a sense of danger /rom the law, rather iir 218 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. I? 1 than of having done evil against the law ; are no marks of lovo to God, or of an holy temper. An awakened sinner, therefore, wishing for distresses of this kind, is a person seeking the misery of unbelief, that he may obtain a permission to believe." — Dr. Owen on the Holy Spirit. i ;'« Lo, on a narrow neck of land, ;.ixt two unbounded seas I stand, Jccure, insensible ! A point of time, a moment's space, Eemoves me to that heavenly place. Or shuts mc up in hell. O God, my inmost soul convert, And deeply on my thoiightful heart Eternal things impress ! Give me to feel their solemn weight. And tremble on the brink of fate. And wake to righteousness. Before me place, in dread array. The pomp of that tremendous day. When Thou, with clouds, shalt come To judge the nations at Thy bar ; And tell me, Lord, shall I be there, To meet a joyful doom ? O Saviou'-, then my soul receive, Then bid me in Thy presence live, And reign with Thee above, Where faith is sweetly lost in sight, And hope in full, supreme dehght, And everlasting love. H THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUB. m CHAPTEK XXXVIII. lii *' What is the Gospel ? It is 'uie preaching of Jesus Christ — Heaven's Messenger of mercy to sinful and perishing man — whose word is * good tidings of great joy' — *to all people.' More fully and definitively we give the substance of His message in Scripture language. ' Hear, heavens, and give ear, earth : for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.' Still * if ye be willing and obedient,' ' though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' ' Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am Godj and there is none else.' It is a ' faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,' The * Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.' In the fulness of time ' God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law,' ' For as many as arc of the works of the law are under the curse.' * Who" His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree ; by whose stripes we are healed.' He died, 'the jn-^t for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.' * Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested — even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Cliri'st unto all and upon all them that believe.' Hence ' whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.' * Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other I t m r km 220 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. name under heaven given among men whereby wt; must be saved.' * This salvation is offered to all and is without ■works of the law. ' By grace,* it is said, *ye are saved.' * Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' * This is life eternal, to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.' Hence ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.' " — Oriental Baptist, Calcutta. Just as thou art — without one trace Of love, or joy, or inward grace. Or fitness for the heavenly place — guilty sinner, come ! Thy sins I bore on Calvary's tree ; The stripes, tliy due, were laid on Me, That peace and pardon might be free — wretched sinner, come ! Come, leave thy burden at the cross ; Count all thy gains but empty dross ; My grace repays all earthly loss — needy sinner, come ! Come, hither bring thy boding fears, Thy aching heart, thy bursting tears ; 'Tis Mercy's voice salutes thine ears — O trembling sinner, come ! The Spirit and the bride say, " Come ! " Eojoicing saints re-echo, " Come ! " Who faints, who thirsts, who will, may come. Thy Saviour bids thee come. <( . . One day I received a hasty summons to inform me that she was dying Ehzabeth's eyes were closed, and as yet she perceived me not. I then broke the silence by reading the passage, ' death, where is thy THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 221 iform were e the I thy sting? grave, where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.' At the sound of these words her eyes opened, and something like a ray of Divine hght beamed on her countenance, as she said, ' Victory, victory ! through our Lord Jesus Chnst.' She relapsed again, taking no further notice of any one present. ' God be praised for the triumph of faith ! ' said I. A short struggle for breath took place in the dying young woman, which was soon over; and then I said to her, ♦ My dear friend, do you not feel that you are supported ! ' * The Lord deals very gently with me,' she replied. * Are not His. promises now very precious to you ? ' * They are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus.' * Are you in much bodily pain ? ' • So little that I almost forget it.' ' How good the Lord is ! ' ' And how unworthy am I ! ' * You are going to see Him as Ho is.' * I think — I hope — I believe that I am.' She again fell into a short slumber. * Father, mother,' said the reviving daughter, ' He is good to me — trust Sim, praise Him evermore.' * Sir,' added she, in a faint voice, * I want to thank you for your kindness to me — I want to ask a favour. You buried my sister — will you do the same for me ? ' * All shall be as you wish, if God permit ; ' I replied. * Thank you, sir, thank you. I have another favour to ask. When I am gone remember my father and mother. They are old, but I hope the good work is begun in their souls. My prayers are heard. Pray come and see them. I cannot speak much, but I want to speak for their sakes. Sir, remember them.' " The aged parents now sighed and sobbed aloud, utter- ing broken sentences, and gained some relief by such an expression of feeUngs. At length I said to Elizabeth, ' Do you experience any doubts or temptations on the subject of "m m ii m > > >i 222 THE SINNEll AND HIS SAVIOUR. 3'our eternal safety ? ' * No, sir ; the Lord deals very gently with me and gives me peace.' * What are your views of the dark valley of death, now that you are passing through it ? ' ♦ It is not dark.' ' Why so ? ' * The Lord is here, and He is my light and my salvation.' * Have you any fears of more bodily suffering ? ' ' The Lord deals so gently with me, I can trust Him.' Something of a con- vulsion came on. When it was past, she said again and again, ' The Lord deals very gently with me. Lord, I am thine, save me — blessed Jesus — precious Saviour — His blood cleanseth from all sin — Who shall separate ? — His name is Wonderful — Thanks be to God — He giveth us the victory — I, even I, am saved — grace, mercy, and wonder — Lord, receive my spirit ! Dear sir, dear father, mother, friends, I am going — but all is well, well, well — ' She relapsed again. We knelt down to prayer : the Lord was in the midst of us, and blessed us. She did not again revive while I remained, nor ever speak any more words which could be understood. She slumbered for about ten hours, and at last sweetly fell asleep in the arms of that Lord who had dealt so gently with her. I left the house an hour after she had ceased to speak. I pressed her hand as I was taking leave, and said, ' Christ is the Kesur- rection and the Life.' She gently returned the pressure, but could neither open her eyes, nor utter a reply. " I never had witnessed a scene so impressive as this before. It completely filled my im.agination as I returned home. * Farewell,' thought I, * dear friend, till the morning of an eternal day shall renew our personal intercourse.* " The foregoing is an extract from ** The Dairyman's Daughter," by the Bev. Leigh Eichmond. This dear girl was converted through the instrumentality of a Methodist minister, though no mention is made of this fact in the narrative itself. S THE sinneh and his SAviorn. 22a rse. "I am woarj', Lord, of dwelling 'Mid the passing things of time ; I am weary of the sadness Of death's funereal chime. I long to dwell in heaven, Where flowerets never die, Where brows are never shaded. Where hearts ne'er breathe a sigh. They tell mc Thon art coming. Art speeding on Thy way, That soon the night of weeping Will end in joyous day. But my heart, meanwhile, is weary, And my spirit shrinks within, From the daily, hourly conflict With the world, the flesh, and sin. Dear Saviour, come, then " Tills -VN'as the last liymn written by Mrs. Dening. The prayer, "Dear Saviour, come, then ," was answered, and before she finished the hymn for earth, began " the new song " in heaven. ** A minister gives the following illustration of * faith that would remove mountains,' which he heard from the lips of a negro preacher, who was speaking to his congre- gation upon the discharge of duties that seemed diflBcult, if not hopeless : * Breden,' he said, in his broken way, ' whateber de good God tell me to do in dis blessed book,' (holding up an old well-read Bible,) ' dat I'm gwine to do. If I see in it dat I must jump troo a stone wall, I'm gwino to jump at it. Going troo it belongs to God ; jumping at it 'longs to 7ne.' " "If sinp-^^o were naturally and absolutely unable to believe in Christ, they would be equally unable to disbe- li i? ■)i' in- 224 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. I lieve ; for it requires the same powers to reject, as to embracie. And in this case there would be no room for an inability of another kind : a dead body is equally unable to do evil, as to do good ; and a man naturally and absolutely blind could not be guilty of shutting his eyes against the light. ' It is indwelling sin,' as Dr. Owen says, * that both disenableth men unto, and hinders them from believ- ing, AND THAT ALONE. Blindness of mind, stubbornness of the will, sensuality of the affections, all concur to keep poor perishing souls at a distance from Christ." — Relief ioiis Tract. No faith we trust. 'Tis Christ alone — 'Tis what He is, what He has done; He is for us as given by God, It was for us He shed His blood : We take the guilty sinner's name, Th^ guilty sinner's Saviour claim. We do Jiotfecl our sins are gone, But knoto it from Thy word alone : We know that Thou our sins didst lay On Him who has put sin away : We take the guilty sinner's name, The guilty sinner's Saviour claim, Because we know our sins forgiven, We happy feel : our home is heaven. Oh help us now as sons, our God, To tread the path that Christ has trod : We take the guilty sinner^s name, TJie guilty sinner's Saviour claim. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 225 CHAPTER XXXIX. i HE words ^\faith,'' ^^ trust,'' and *'helicve'' occupy such a prominent place in God's Word, and are so intimately con- nected with man's salvation, that it is more a matter for rejoicing than surprise that reference is so often made to them by religious teachers. Reader, allow us to warn you not to allow such precious words, so full of meaning, to become monotonous and lifeless by any inert thoughtless- ness on your part to heed them. Remember, " without faith it is impossible to please God " (Heb. xi. 6). *' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts xvi. 31). " God is my rock ; in Him will I trust : He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour " (2 Sam. xxiii. 3). iNo wonder that the earth is ransacked in order to find suitable illustrations by which to impress on the mind the importanc truths sought to be conveyed by these three simple words. While we must admit that most of the illustrations thus employed throw a certain amount of light on the truth sought to be taught bv +hese words, we are of the opinion that in many cases -Icrfe illustrations are interpreted more literally than was intended by the illustrators themselves. To establish this point we will show wherein two of the most common of these illustra- tions are defective. First. It is often urged: " Take Christ at His word, as did the man with the withered hand. He did not stop o reason as to his ability to use his hand. Had he done so he never would have used it : moreover, it would have been dishonouring to Christ to have hesitated a moment." It il ,r ] V' I'' iiiri 22G THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. must be borne in mind that on one occasion the ili'<i<f ♦* came forth " at the command of the same voice, and others were liealed by Christ to whom He was c v\ru. In each of these cases faith was necesnarily absent and consequently must fail as an apt illustration of faith. SecuniL Another illustrator says: ••Suppose a party in whom you had full confidence wrote to inform you that by the death of a distant relation in India you had been left a legacy of £10,000. Would you not immediately hcJieve it, and that without any mental effort ? You would not stop to reason about the matter, or ask yourself whether you had the right kind of faith. You would at once believe and rejoice." In such a case neither belief or im- belief could by any possibility affect the result, "^jvery dollar would come in duo time even if the recip had studiously ridiculed the report up to the moment tliat ho grasped the money in his hands. Having thus shown wherein we consider the two fore- going illustrations defective, we will endeavour to present two more perfect. It will, we think, be universally admitted that, with very few exceptions, every one who dies enter- tains a hope of heaven, and has a reason for such a hope. Now suppose a dying man is visited who says, ••Thanks to having pious parents, I have always led a good moral life, and been enabled to pay 100 cents in the dollar. I have been a consistent Church member for the last fifteen years and a Sunday-school teacher ten. I have always contributed according to my means — and at times beyond — to religious and benevolent objects. I freely forgive all my enemies, and if I have injured any one I am sorry for it and ask their forgiveness. I frankly acknowledge to many shortcomings, but inasmuch as God is merciful, I trust I shall not be shut out from heaven. I " and suddenly dies. It is easy to see the actual faith, trust, THE SrXNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 227 Hr. I fueen Iways 3yond ■re all y for e to ul, I aud trust, and belief on which sucli a person has staked the salvation of his soul. *' Open unto us ! " cries such a one, notwith- standing he ignores '♦ the only begotten Son of God," *' who bare our sins in his own body on the tree." *• Depart, yo cursed I " will be the answer to his knock. How fatal the mistake ! How sad that it should not have been discovered sooner ! If, while at the gate, he should hear those within, it would not be like his dying testimony, but would be " Unto Him that saved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood," "<o Him that sitteth upon the throne^ be honour, and glory, and power for ever and ever." Our next illustration shall be fr )m real life. *' Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near view of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infinitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ! the blood of Christ '. — NONE but Christ. Oh! how thankful I feel that God has provided a way, that I, sinful as I am, may look forward with joy to another world, through his dear Son. . . . Oh I to be in heaven, in the presence of God and Christ. . . . Jesus Christ is the anchor of my soul, sure and steadfast. ■ Live near to Christ — nothing is worth so much, I feel, as to hang my naked soul on Christ as a poor sinner. He is all my salvation. . . . My soul rests on Christ. . . . Christ is all my hope. What could I do but for Him ? .... If any- thing be put on my joffin, let it be these words, * Christ is MY HOPE.' " Thus died Nathaniel E. Cobb, an active Chris- tian, a wealthy and most l^^^nevolent merchant. — Extracted from Memoirs of Distinyuished Christians, Published by the American Baptist Publication Society. Thus is seen the actual /«tV/i, trust and belief in which Mr. Cobb died. It need only be contrasted with the above to teach the trust we wish to convey. Donm with uorks and up with Chiist, /. ;>.' /I 16 rrr 228 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ;ili- [' W. I in Sweet the moments, rich in blessing. Which before the cross I spend ; Life, and health, and peace possessing, From the sinner's dying Friend. Here I sit in wonder viewing Mercy streaming in His blood ; Precious drops, my soul bedewing, Plead and claim my peace with God. Tnly blessed is the station, Low before His cross to rest ; And to know, in God's salvation, How my soul is fully blest. Here it is I find my heaven, While upon the Lamb I gaze. Love I much ? I've much forgiven ; Pm a miracle of grace. Love and grief my heart dividing, With my tears His feet I'll bathe ; Constant stiH, in faith abiding, Life deriving from His death. ♦* It was in the last days of 1874 that the Rev. Thomas Gabriel, a native Telugu preacher was attacked by the fever which ended his life. The fever (bilious) began on Christmas eve, and continued to gain on the system in spite of the efforts of two doctors. On the seventh day it was evident he would not live, and was told there was no hope. He said it was well, and that he would soon be with Christ, which is far better. " He then gave some words of warning and counsel to those about him, affectionately beseeching them to be re- conciled to God. His brother and wife had received his parting words, and we all thought the end had come ; but some medicine given him by a native doctor seemed to do him good, and I returned home for some rest. But I was no sooner at home than a message was brought that Gabriel was dying. I went at once and found that the case was THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 229 final. Tlie labouring breath came hot and fast, the fingers clutched nervously at the bed-clothes, and the eyes roamed restlessly about the room. The poor distracted wife sat on the bed rocking herself to and fro in her great grief, vainly calling on him to i^ronounce her name ; the children called, 'Papa, papa,' but he heeded not; mother and brother called for a sign of recognition, but all in vain ; the spirit was engaged with its Maker. I stooped down and said, 'Gabriel, do you know me?' But no — no human name could seduce the soul from the view it had already had of the coming glory. With the hand of the stricken wife in one of mine, and that of the dying husband in the other, I whispered, * Gabriel, is Jesus precious to you now? ' A gleam of intelligence flashes across the paling countenance, the light of life leaps back for a moment to the glazing eye, and the nerveless lips for the last time prepare to witness for Jesus, as the soul pauses in its journey to whisper the answer : • precious, most precious.' The gleam is gone, the eye is dim again, the lips move not, and a soul snatched from the degrading depths of heathenism is safe in the arms of Jesus." — EjtractJ'roni a Vrivate Letter to the Author, from Eer. John McLaurin, a Canadian MLisionari/ stationed at Coconada, India. " He would begin singing the plaintive air, ' Molly Asthore,' to a hymn in Irish. In larger towns, on the other hand, keeping to the saddle, he would place himseK before a shop window — if possible that of an apothecary, and above all, of a Eoman Catholic, for both of these circumstances helped to deter the mob from throwing stones at him." — Life of Rev. iiideon Ouseley. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves " (Matt. x. 16). T^ 230 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Sowing the seed by the dawnlight fair, Sowing the seed by the noonday glare ; Sowing the seed by the fading light, Sowing the seed in the solemn night : Oh, what shall the harvest be ? Oh, what shall the harvest be ? Sown in the darkness or sown ir ' light, Sown in our weakness or sown i our might ; Gathered in time or eternity. Sure, ah sure, will the harvest be! Sowing the seed by the wayside high. Sowing the seed on the rocks to die ; Sowing the seed where the thorns will spoil, Sowing the seed in the fertile soil : Oh, what will the harvest be ! Sowing the seed with an aching heart. Sowing the seed while the tear-drops start, Sowing in hope till the reapers come Gladly to gather the harvest home : Oh, what shall the harvest be ! -i» « if THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 231 CHAPTEK XL. "We are justified by faith, but the exiierience of what goes on within us is sensation and not faith. Some men seem to have a difficulty with anxious souls, to know what to advise them to do. It is the Spirit that quickeneth. . . . Praying and believing are alike with the unregenerate man, without the quickening of the Spirit of God. The great point is to find out what we are commanded to do, what is our duty to do. It is to tell every man the good news, and press him instantly to believe it. It is the Spirit that is the agent, but He always uses the truth as the instrument, the truth about a crucified and now risen Christ. Faith does not come by feeling, trying, or praying, but by hearing. The mo- ment I accept Christ as my own individual personal Saviour who put away my sin, I am warranted to beUeve that I am born again, and the Spirit in the new man will lust against the flesh in the old man. Peace, indeed, I have with God, Christ Himself being our peace, but I have no peace with myself. .'Being justified by faith' <^iu contrast to * by works ') * we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' There is a faith that is human, and a faith that is Spirit-wrought. The plan is of God ; the redemption, the truth, and the faith are all of God. But how can I know whether I have God- wrought faith? Does my faith take hold of what is going on within ? That is not of God. Does my faith take hold of, is it taken up with, what was done eighteen hundred years ago on Calvary, and with Him who 232 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ^i II * i\ iM) suffered there ? This is God-honouring and saving faith. This is being born of the Spirit. The Spirit by the truth introduces Christ as the hfe into my dead soul. This is quickening, the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost thus gives a new nature." — Grace and Truth. ** On the day he died, he called his brother Thomas, and in the most affectionate manner exhorted him to be faithful to his trust in proclaiming the way of salvation ; he then embraced every person in the room, both black and white, and said, 'It is strange that the Lord hath strengthened me to talk so much, do I talk plainly ? ' His aunt told him he did. *I am glad of it,' said he, *for I wish you to understand me, and to see that I am not delirious nor deceived in this trying time.' ** After he had embraced every person in the room, he said, * Farewell, vain world, farewell, sin. death, where is thy sting ! boasting grave, where is thy victory ? This evening I shall join the angels in a song of everlasting praise.' The physician then gave him some wine and water, of which he drank a little, and said, * Take it away, I shall drink no more of it, until I drink it fresh in my Father's kingdom.' Nature then was so exhausted that he appeared to be fast sinking in the cold embrace of death. About this time his father came in ; his aunt asked him if lie knew his father. ' Oh yes,' said he, * I know him.' • How are you, my son ? ' said his father. He replied with a feeble voice, ' Father I am yet alive.' His father then asked him, * if he had an assurance of Divine favour? ' ' Oh, bless the Lord,' he replied, with stronger emphasis than before. After a few moments he seemed to revive, and turning over with a smiling countenance, said, * Come, come, sweet Emmanuel, come ; come, sweet Emmanuel! ' and thus passed away." — Life of James G. Jeffries. American Baptist Publication Society. THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 233 I know not the hour when my Lord will come. To take me away to His own dear home ; presence will lighten tho gloom, But I know that His And that will be glorj' for me. Oh, that will bo glory for me ; But I k Know that His presence will lighten the gloom, And that will bo glory for me. I know not the song that the angels sing, I know not the sound of the harps' glad ring But I know there'll be mention of Jesus our King, And that will be music for me. I know not the form of my mansion fair, I know not the name that I then shall bear ; But I know that my Saviour will welcome me there. And that will be heaven for me. '5 G. ** The change in Mr. Judson's religious character was not attended by those external indications of moral ex- citement which are frequently observed. The reformation wrought in him was, however, deep and radical. With unusual simplicity of purpose, he yielded himself up at once and for ever to the will of God, and relied upon Christ as his all-sufficient Saviour." — Memoir of Rev. A. Judsoji, by Rev. F. Wayland, D.D. In 1818, Dr. Carey, in a letter to the Eev. Andrew Fuller, says: — "I still live, and am in as good a stato of health as perhaps I ever was ; well would it be if my soul were in as good a state as my body. I think I trust in the Lord Jesus, and I cannot say that I ever get farther than to cast my perishing soul from day to day on the Saviour of sinners. What I have always lamented, as the great crime of which I am constantly guilty, is want of love to Christ. That fervency of spirit which many feel, that constant activity in the ways of God, and that hunger and thirr^ after righteousness which constitute 234 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. the life and soul of religion, I scarcely feel at all ; or if I do pei'ceive a small degree of it, its continuance is so short, and its operations so feeble, that I can scarcely consider it as forming a part of my character. I live a kind of mechanical life, going through the labours of each day as I should go through any other work, but in a great measure destitute of that energy which makes every duty a pleasure." *Tis a point I long to know — Oft . causes anxious thought — Do I love the Lord, or no ? Am I His, or am I not ? • If I love, why am I thus ? Why this dull and lifeless frame ? Hardly, sure, can they be worse. Who have never heard His name. When I turn my eyes within. All is dark, and vain, and wild ; Filled with unbelief and sin, Can I deem myself a child ? If I pray, or hear, or read, Sin is mixed with all I do ; You that love the Lord indeed. Tell me, is it thus with you ? Yet I mourn my stubborn will. Find my sin a grief and thrall ; Should I grieve for what I feel, If I did not love at all ? Lord, decide the doubtful case ; Thou who art Thy people's sun, Shine upon Thy work of grace, If it be indeed begun. Let me love Thee more and more. If I love at all, I pray ; If I have not loved before, Help me to begin to-day. THE SINNER AND IIIS SAVIOUR. sm r if I is so arcely Live a rs of b in a every I CHAPTER XLI. "** Believing in Christ is often said to be the most simple of all moral and mental acts. To some Christians it may be so, but to me it is difl&cult and perplexing. I know what and in whom to believe, for the objects of faith are clear, certain, and well defined. But in what spirit I am to believe, so as to be assured of salvation, and how I can believe otherwise than I do, is what I now desire to know. That most important of all queries, What must I do to be saved ? is answered in the New Testament by the direction and promise — ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ; ' and it is repeatedly affirmed that the peace, joys, and triumphs of Christian believers, in apostolic times, arose from their faith. But all this adds to my perplexity and dejection ; for though I believe the very truths and facts which they believed, I do not realize their peace and assurance. I act upon the same prescription, but do not obtain the same cure. They were * justified by faith ; ' but I am not. Wherein does my difficulty exist ? What must I now do or be beyond what I have done and am ? Does any one believe in Christ other- wise than I ? How can saving faith be unlike my faith ? Believing in Christ is the one great condition of salvation, 60 that faith is of infinite importance ; and it must be equally important that I clearly understand it. What then is the clearest, simplest, and truest conception of saving faith that I can form? and what are the characteristics of that faith ? Let me, if possible, dis- tinctly understand what must be my precise mental and moral act in believing to salvation. 236 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUli. . Ri'tr Faith transfers my attention fbom myself, wholly and absolutely, and fixes my attention, trust, and reliance, wholly, absolutely, and exclusively on ANOTHER, EVEN ChRIST. Let this simple definition of the act of faith he always home in mind, for it may he the key to all my perplexities, difficulties, and doubts. In believing on the Lord Christ, I am not to consider what I am, nor what I have done, nor how I feel, as reasons why I may expect to be rejected, or why I should be discouraged. I must consider only what Christ is, as the incarnate Son of Gc^ my Saviour, and in His propitiation for sin, in His intercession at the throne, and in His infinite love and infinite power to save. "Whether I am the worst or best of men, or whether I am joyous or distressed, is nothing to my faith, as the faith of a sinner in his Saviour. In beheving in Him I must entirely lose sight of my«elf, and must look only to what He is, and to what He did in my behalf, when He died for me, the just for the unjust, that He mi^ht bring me to God, and when He thus redeemed me from the curse of the law by being made a curse for me. Whatever I may feel, whatever I may be, or whatever I may have done, I now have only one thing to do, I must simply rely on His promises and covenant, regardless of all other things. This is believing in Christ ; and it is repeatedly and dis- tinctly affirmed in the Gospel that every penitent who thus believes is saved. Christ saves him from his sins, fully and at once. The great atonement, then, is the great object of saving faith. That atonement satisfies God as a Judge, and shall it not satisfy me, as a sinner ? God deems it sufficient, and shall not I ? Since He accepts the atonement as a satisfactory reason why the law which doomed me to die may, with safety and honour, concur in the gift of eternal THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. 237 AND ON life to me, shall I reject it by unbelief, or dishonour it by doubt ? Him hath God set before me, as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare the righteousness of God in the remission of sins that are past ; that He might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. (Rom. iii. 25 and 26.) That He might be just in justifying it is said, and thus that the unjust might be saved by be- lieving ; not that they must be saved whether they believe or not. If I simply and fully trust in the atonement of Christ, that atonement, in all its fulness of love, and in its complete satisfaction to the administrative justice of God, becomes mine. I who am unjust shall then, through His mercy, be accounted righteous in relation to law, and at the same time the authority and honour of the law will be upheld as much in my pardon as a beUever as in the punishment of an unbeliever. ♦* This is a wonderful work of mercy on the part of the supreme Administrator of the moral law of the universe, in His vicarious office of Redeemer. It is altogether His own work of love. In no sense is it my work. No defects in me can possibly detract from the propitiation offered by Him. He is ' alive for evermore,' and at this moment He presents His own body and blood, at the altar before the throne, as the propitiation on my behalf, and on behalf of all who follow Him in faith. Thus He is * the Lamb of God,' who not only took, but now ' taketh away, the sins of the world ' (John i. 29). This is the truth as it is in Jesus. This is the truth in relation to me, and it is eternally true. This is what I am instructed to believe, that I may be saved, and I do believe it ; but I am not consciously and sensibly saved. Let me then more fully revolve this question of saving faith. ** Believing in Jesus is * looking to Jesus.' It is * behold- ing the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the »» THE SINSER AND HIS SAVIOUR. \\ i it- i i \^^^ world.' In believing on Christ, the contrite one, despairing of self, loses all sight of self; and beholds only Him. Looking at faith is looking at self, in its own act, and looking at self is looking inwards not upwards, on the dark- ness within, not the glory above. I cannot look both to mvself and to Christ. I have not to believe that I am a believer, nor to contemplate my own faith as though self were the object of vision. I know that I see, not by con- templating my own sight, but by beholding the Light of the world. I have not to discern faith in me, but by faith to discern salvation in Him. There can be no faith apart from Christ, the true and only object of faith. I must not cast about in my own heart in search of faith, with which to comfort myself. It is Christ who comforts and saves, and faith saves only by receiving the salvation that is in Him. ** Believing, like looking, is receiving rather than doing. As in looking I receive light, in believing I receive the Light of the world. Believing in Jesus, and receiving and beholding Him, are thus used as equivalent terms, and as such they explain each other. " He who thus looks to Jesus is saved by Him, according to His * everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and Bure.' * As God is true, all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen to the glory of God by us ' (2 Cor. L 18-20). Thus the salvation of a confiding penitent is made sure by all the promises and by the truth of God. His hope is as sure *' as that God is true." — " Sure of Heacen," hy TJiomas Mills. Published by E. Stock, London. Thy works, not mine, Christ, Speak gladness to this heart ; They tell me all is done, And bid my fear depart. THE SISNER AND HIS SAVIOUH. 23!> Thy tears, not mine, Christ, Have wept my giiilt away. And turned this night of mine Into a blessdd day. Thy cross, not mine, O Christ, Has borne the awful load Of sins that none in heaven Or earth could bear but Clod. Thy death, not mine, Christ, Has paid the ransom due ; Ten thousand deaths like mine Would have been all too few. Thy righteousness, O Christ, Alone can cover me ; No righteousness avails. Save that which is of Thee. '* On Friday, 21st October, 1836, when the means used to reheve him were altogether fruitless, and all hope of his recovery gone, he said, in a slow impressive manner, ' I am a poor fallen creature, and our nature is a poor fallen thing ; there is no denying that, is there ? It cannot be repaired; there is nothing that I can do to repair it. Well then, that is true. Now, what would you advise in such a case ? ' As he made rather a long pause, I doubted whether he did not mean me to answer ; upon which I replied, * Surely, sir, to go, as you have always done, as a poor fallen creature to the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing your sins, and imploring and expecting pardon and peace.' He answered, in a very determined and joyful manner, * That is just what I am doing and will do.' I added, And you find the Lord Jesus Christ to be very present and giving you peace ? ' He instantly ans\vered, looldng up to heaven, with the most remarkable expression of countenance, • yes! that I do.* *And He does not for- sake you ? ' * No, indeed ! that can never be.' He then 240 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. i'''i 1 mm said, • Infinite wisdom has devised the whole with infinite love ; and infinite power enables me (pausing) to rest upon that power ; and all is infinitely good and gracious. All is right and well, and just as it should be. I am in the dear Father's hands ! All is secure ! When I look to Him, I see nothing but faithfulness and truth ; and I have not a doubt or a fear, but the sweetest peace. I cannot have more peace. But if I look another way — to the poor crea- ture — oh, then there is nothimj ! nothing ! nothin/j ! but what is to be abhorred and mourned over. Yes, I say that ; and it is true.' "Recovering from a great stupor, he said, * What is before me I know not ; whether I shall live or die : but this I know, that all things are ordered and sure. Everything is ordered with unerring wisdom and unbounded love.' .... Smiting three times on his breast, he said, * I am, I know, the chief of sinners ; and I hope for nothing but the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, to life eternal ! and I shall be, if not the greatest monument of God's mercy in heaven, yet the very next to it ; for I know of none greater.' Then, after a short pause, he added, * And if we are to bring the matter to a point, it lies in a nutshell, and it is here : I look, as the chief of sinners, for the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, to life eternal.' Then, very deliber- ately, 'And I die adoring the sovereignty i G iu choosing such a one — and the memory o^ < ^ pardoning such a one — and the patience of God in . mg with s h a one — and the thankfulness of God in pt otinp His work and performing all His promises to such a on* .' .... * I do not depend upon feelings and thoughts, which are changing and uncertain, but I am kept by Him who changes not. It is upon the broad grand principles of the Gospel that I repose. I wish to look at the grand ivhole — at the vast scheme of redemption as from eternity to THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. ut €ternity.' ... I gently took Lis withcrccl hand in mine, and then solemnly pronounced the benediction. lie faintly endeavoured to say * Amen,' and after that he sjioke no more." — Last Days of Uev. C. Simeon, a minister of the Church of Knyland. '* If she only saw Jesus as a Substitute, instead of a mere help, it would soon put an end to all her reasonings. " Those who have as much breath in them as to reason about the matter are not wholly dead, and those who will not take the sinner's place are not wholly lost. " You ask, ' May I believe that Jesus Christ, with His righteousness and all His salvation, is by Himself offered to sinners, and to me in particular ?' Yes, indeed, you may. The Gospel of the dying love of Christ to sinners is to be preached to * every creature.' In this way you are interested in the dying love of Jesus ; for it is preached to * every creature.' "We are warranted to apply the general offer of the Gospel to every one in particular, and every one is warranted to apply it to himself. • Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and THOU shalt be saved.' ** Am I warranted, then, in believing in Christ as my own Saviour, just because God's Word says He is held forth as "a propitiation for the whole world?" Precisely so. " And would I be warranted in saying, * He loved me and gave Himself for me ? ' " What else could you say if you believe in His veracity. Hunting after faith, as if it were a separate, substantial something, like a beast or bird, is chasing a phantom. Faith in Christ is nothing external coming into us ; but has existence only in the renewed mind believing in Christ, A believing mind in Jesus is that condition of mind which m^m M " ' i t I i 1 s '<'.' '■ 1 i ■ §'vfi| * ''f *i 1 ;■.- itf 1 M w .•■i I :^ ' 242 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. God enjoins you to possess. We are saved hy faith, not by efforts to produce faith." — "How to Get Peace.'' By Kev. W, Beid, M.A. I have heard of a Saviour's love, And a wonderful love it must be ; But did He come down from above, Out of love and compassion for jue ? It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I have heard how He suffered end bled, Ho'^: he languished and died on the tree ; But then is it anywhere said That He languished and suffered for me ? He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peaco was upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed. I've been told of a heaven on high, Which the children of Jesus shall sec ; But is there a place in the sky Made ready and furnished for me ? In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you ; that where I am there ye may be also. Lord answer these questions of mine ; To whom shall I go but to Thee ? And sa;', by Thy Spirit divine, There's a Saviour and heaven for me. "I could not find out ivhat faith vas; or uhat it was to beUeve and come to Christ. I read the calls of Christ to the ivea7'i/ and heavi/ laden ; but could find no way in which He directed them to come. I thought I would gladly come if I knew how ; though the path of duty were never so difficult. I read Stoddard's Guide to Chnst, and my hieart rose against the author ; for though he told me my very heart all along under convictions, and seemed to be very beneficial to me in his directions ; yet here he seemed to THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 2i3 me to fail : he did not tell me anything I could do that would bring me to Christ, but left me as it were with a great gulf between me and Christ, without any direction how to get through. For I was not yet and experimentally effectually taught that there could be no way prescribed' whereby a natural man could, of his own strength, obtain that which is supernatural, and which the highest angel cannot give." — Memoir of Rev. David Brainerd. " In this book the work of Jesus Christ was explained in a clear, simple, practical manner, and the sinner was encouraged to cast himself, with all his sins, just as he was, into the arms of the Saviour. Then light beamed on her spirit ; she understood, as she never had before, the work of redemption, and laid hold of it and embraced it with joyful ardour. So powerfully was she moved that she exclaimed, * What, Jesus, is this all ? Is this all ? Simply to believe — to believe, and leave all to Thee ! Thy blood blots out all! Oh Lamb of God! Lamb of God!' She fell on her knees before the Lord and wept. Jesus became the sole object of her faith, her love, and her adoration. He was her Saviour, her strength, her life, her all." — Memoir of Madam Feller (of Quebec), by Rev. T. M. Cramp, D.D. IV A debtor to mercy alone, Of covenant mercy I sing : Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on, My person and offering to bring. The terrors of law and of God, With me can have nothing to do ; My Saviour's obedience and blood, Hide all my transgressions from view. The work which His goodness began, The arm of His strength will complete; His promise is yea and amen, And never was forfeited yet. 17 1 p ■ i :. i & ' 2M THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. Things future, ncr things that are now, Not all things, below nor above, Can make Him His purpose forego, Or sever my soul from His love. My name from the palms of His hands. Eternity will not erase ; Impressed on His heart it remains, In marks of indelible grace ; Yes, I to the end shall endure, As sure as the earnest is given ; More happy, but not more secure, The glorified spirits in heaven. " We must not close with Christ because we feel Him, but because God has said it, and we must take God's word even in the dark." — Bolert McCheyne, "In saying 'the sins of the world,* He extends this favour without distinction, to all mankind; so that every man may be assured that nothing can hinder from obtain- ing salvation provided that he. comes to Christ by faith. God shews Himself propitious to the whole world ; where- fore all men, without exception, are exhorted to believe in Christ." — John Calvin. my God what must I do ? Thou alone the way canst show ; Thou canst save me in this hour ; 1 have neither will nox power: God if over all thou art, Greater than my sinful heart. All thy power on me be shown, Take away the heart of stone. Take away my darling sin, Make me xvilling to be clean ; Make me ivilling to receive All Thy goodness waits to give ; Force me, Lord, with all to part ; Tear these idols from my heart ; Now Thy love almighty show. Make even me a creature new. [ el Him, I's word ads this at every I obtain - y faith, where- ieve in THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 245 Jesus, mighty to renew, Work iu me to ivill aud do ; Turn my nature's rapid tide. Stem the torrent of my pride ; Stop the whirlwind of my will ; Speak, and bid the sun stand still. # * • • « Conquer Thy worst foe in me, Get Thyself the victory ; Save the vilest of the race ; Force mo to bo saved by grace. — John Wesley. " Plainly, since man is guilty, lost, condemned already, and dead in trespasses and sins, there is nothing he can do to earn salvation or commend himself to God. And as plainly, since Christ came into the world to save sinners, and finished the work God gave Him to do, so that He is able to completely save all who come unto God by Him, there is no work the sinner needs to do, no fitness he needs to seek, in order that he may receive salvation. He has not to u'in God's love ; for God already loves him, as tes- tified in the gift of His Son. The sinner has not to 2>cr- made God to be merciful and willing to save him ; God, already is more than willing to save, and is beseeching him to accept salvation. No emotions or experiences are to be sought, to make it right with God to save sinners. To a perfect offering nothing can be added As simply aud really and immediately as one accepts any gift, so simply and really and immediately must the sinner ac- cept the gift of God. According to the Bible, faith in general is defined as ' the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.' In its simplest form it is the belief in the testi- mony of another, and comes by hearing. It is taking God at His word. The faith, therefore, that saves, is no ar- s 1. M I I 24G THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. bitrary requirement of God, to be first fulfilled as a con- dition, entitling one to receive eternal life, but is itself the very act of receiving the salvation of God as provided and given. It is the single act of taking one's place behind the blood of the passover lamb, which, though sprinkled upon the doorposts and lintel, can be no protection to those who remain outside its shelter. It is only receiv- ing the light, which, however clearly it shines from the uplifted Christ, cannot enlighten nor heal one who keeps his eyes shut and face turned away. It is really drinking in the water of life, which, however freely it flows, can no otherwise quench the thirst. It is merely taking in the seed which, however vital, cannot spring up into life except it be honestly received into the heart. '•Thus salvation which is entirely by grace must be by faith, and the faith essential to salvation, instead of being an arbitrary requirement, is, in the nature of things, ne- cessary, just as a gift can be accepted only through be- lieving the testimony of the giver when he declares that ho gives it." — Gospel Work: American Tract Society. Sinners, will you scorn the message Sent in mercy from above ? Evciy sentence, oh, how tender I Every lino is full of love : Listen to it ; Every line is full of love. Hear the heralds of the gospel News from Zion's King proclaim : " Pardon to each rebel sinner ; Free forgiveness in His name : " How important ! ' " Free forgiveness in His name." Tempted souls, they bring you succour; Fearful hearts, they quell your fears ; THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. 247 a con- self the ed and behind rinkled tion to receiv- :om the 10 keeps Irinking can no r in the ;e except st be by of being [ings, ne- ugh be- that he And, with news of consolation, Chase away the falling tears ; Tender heralds, Chase away the falling tears. ** This earth does not appear to be round, but yet it is. It does appear to be motionless, but yet it is not. The sun does not appear to be so large as this earth, but yet it is one million times larger. It appears to move around tho earth, but yet it does not. All these facts are contrary to our common senses of sight and feeling, and yet we believe them implicitly on the testimony of a fellow creature who could not make a spear of grass, a grain of sand, or * one hair white or black' in his own head. And shall we hesi- tate to believe Him who called into existence by His al- mighty fiat millions of worlds ? Now * He that hath re- ceived His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.' * If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater ; for this is the witness of God which He hath tes- tified of His son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself ; he tliat believeth not God hath made him a liar ; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His son. And thiB is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in the Son.'" By a m.'^^ntal act trust your soul on these promises simply because God has made them, just as by a similar act of the mind you trust the promise of a Life Assurance Com- pany to T)ay your family at your death the $10,000 for which your life was insured. The latter however would be received, provided the Company was solvent, whether you believed it or not. Is not faith the gift of God ? Of course it is, so is reason so is the power of speech. The very fact that every good 17- p '5 ' I 248 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR. and perfect gift is from God is a reason "why we should use them for His lory, instead of waiting for some irresistible IDOwer to come and compel us to do so. Unbelief in the Bible is spoken of in most awful terms of condemnation. It is even said to be making God a liar ! and surely none will dare to say that the reason why they are continuing in this awful sin is, that God himself is withholding that which would enable them to do so ! There are not two powers of the mind by which we be- lieve, one for secular and one for spiritual things. It is the same act in either case. It is the thing believed that makes all the difference as to the result. We need not trouble ourselves about beheving in the lorong icatj, but ex- ceedingly careful that we do not believe the ivrong tiling. A false hope for a time gives peace as well as a true one, but will in the end foil us and plunge the soul in despair. The faith that rests solely on the blood of Christ, God's Son, that cleanses from all sin, rests upon a foundation secure as the throne of God. *• The Ijord defines faith to be a coming to God in Christ ; to be a resting f or staying, or rolling of the soul upon Christ. And it is always softest and sweetest to define as God de- fines, both vices and graces. This is the only way to settle the soul, and to secure it against all the wiles of men and devils, who labour by false definitions of grace to keep precious souls in a doubting, staggering, and languishing condition ; and to make their lives a burden and a misery unto them." — Thomas Brooks (1655). " As man is constituted, no power in the universe can move his affections to an object, until he beUeves that the object possesses some loveliness or excellency of character. The heart is affected just as much by the goodness of another if we heliei-e that goodness to exist, as it would be if we knew that it existed. No matter, in the case of the ould use esistible f in the anatiou. ily none auing in ng that 1 we be- 3. It is ved that leed not , but ex- !(/ thing. rue one, despair. )d's Son, n secure . Christ ; 1 Christ. God de- to settle aen and to keep ];uishing I misery erse can that the laracter. Iness of rould be 3 of the THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUR, 249 affections, whether the object in reah7y~p^e^^e7th^od quahties or not, if they are fully believed to exist, the affections will act just as certainly as though they really did exist. The affections are constituted to be governed by faith."-rA. Way of Salvation, governed "I had marked out for myself a plan of conversion in ac cordance with the prevaihng theological notions. First I must have agonizing convictions ; then deep and over- whelming repentance ; then a view of Christ as my Saviour which should fill me with transport ; and from all this would proceed a new and holy life. Until this was done 1 could perform no work pleasing to God, and all that I could do was abomination in His sight. For these emo- tions therefore, I prayed, but recP'Ted nothing in answer which corresponded to my theory of conversion."-/,'... F. Waylami, D.D. Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me ; Died that I might live on high, Died that I might never die ; As the branch is to the vine, I am His and He is mine. Oh, the height of Jesus' love! Higher than the heavens above, Deeper than the depths of sea, ' Lasting as eternity ; Love that found me, wondrous thought I Found me when I sought Him not ! Chief of sinners though I be, Christ is all in all to mo ; ' All my wants to Him are known, All my sorrows are His own ; Safe with Him from earthly strife. He sustains the hidden life. * pi " 250 THE SINNER AND II IS SAVIOUR. CONCLUSION. .:., ( < ': i i m Those wlio have long lived near the Falls of Niagara are- undisturbed by its perpetual roar, but, when a few years since '• Table rock" fell down, making for the moment, a noise above that of the Falls, all were startled ! In like- manner there are now many who have so long been in- treated to " come to Chnst," to '* trust in Chri'it," to " accept Christ," and to ** believe in Christ," that it has become monotonous to them. We have endajivoured to concen- trate such an avalanche of testimony on this one point that we trust it will awaken — after the fashion of •' Table rock " — the reader who may have hitherto heard these invitations without spiritual profit. The testimony we have adduced is from representative men of various denominations, and in whom the religious world have the utmost confidence. A more competent, and truly " grand " jury on this subject could scarcely be empanelled, and they unanimously bring in a verdict of '* GUILTY " against all those who ** neglect so great salva- tion." What say you, reader, are you guilty or not guilty ? Eemember if you are not guilty, but •• believe on the Son " thou ** hast (hast hast) everlasting life " and •* shall (shall, shall) be saved;" but on the other hand, if you are guilty and "believe not the Son" you are "condemned already" and eventually "shall (shall, shall) be damned." These are the words of God himself, and cannot be ignored. If, dear reader, you have read thus far, we have a right to assume that you ask, as did the Philippian jailor, "what MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" To whicli questioH there can be ; i ' i: S ira are r years aent, a In like- een iii- " accept become 3oncen- e point '* Table (1 these ntative 3ligi0U8 petent, cely be diet of salva- guilty ? on the •♦ shall yrou are lemned mned." ▼nored. a right ♦*WHAT can be THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOVIi. 251 only one true answer given, and that is the one given on that occasion : — ** Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt hs saved.'' Inasmuch as the *' devils believe and tremble," it will be, no doubt, asked what particular truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is it that is to be believed in order to salvation ? Do you believe that Christ is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father ? That is all right : believe it, and that firmly, but remember the soul is not thereby saved. Do you believe that Christ took upon Himself our nature and was truly man as well as truly God ? To believe this is to believe a most important truth concerning Christ, and being such should of course be believed, but remember this, the soul thereby is not saved. Do you believe that Christ once dwelt on this earth and was put to death on the cross ? Inasmuch as this is a truth — and a most glorious one — respecting Christ, it can- not but be right to believe it, but do not fall into the fatal error of resting on such a belief for the salvation of your soul. If a belief of all these truths respecting Christ will not save the soul, you will now most likely ask, and we trust anxiously, uhat particular truth concerniinj Chiist is to he believed in order to be saved / We unhesitatingly answer it is the grand and glorious truth that Christ, by the shedding of His blood on the cross, made an ample pro- pitiation or atonement for our souls. " The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." This is most emphatically the work that Christ came from heaven to accomplish. This is the work which He pronounced " finished " when on the cross He " bowed His head and gave up the ghost." The work thus finished on the cross is the ^^ sure foundation t'' and keystone by which all correct doctrines must be held together. This doctrine of substi- tutional atonement — so repeatedly named in this work — is absolutely the doctrine of the Christian religion. Being 252 THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIl. " i such you cannot understand it too thoroughly, or believe it too implicitly. East upon it wholly and on the authority of God himself ♦* thou shalt be saved." Yea more, thou *•* HAST everlasting life." The nature of the law and the law giver, was such that " Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." And by thought or look the sinner was ever liable to " oflfend in one point," and once having transgressed was liable to bear the penalty, which was eternal condemnation. How dreadfully strict the law ! How terribly exacting the Lawgiver I How truly dreadful the punishment ! This penalty must fall on the transgressor or on the provided substitute. The object of the atonement was to make that satisfaction to God's broken law, which was impossible for man to make himself. To become the sinner's substitute it was abso- lutely necessary that. the atoner be one who could and would take the sinner's place. Now there was no being in all God's universe who could take his place but " the man Christ Jesus," who did become the " one mediator between God and man." And it is now " a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." The Son of God actually became the sinner's substitute ! Most wonderful, mysterious, and glorious ti?«8t I Beyond human comprehension ! God was under no obligation to provide this salvation, nor was Christ under any obligation to execute it. • Eepenting, turning, believing and supplicating, all would have been of no avail had not infinite wisdom have devised a way whereby God could be "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus " (Kom. iii. 26). God could not, in consistency with His law and attributes, have exer- cised mercy, save through and by virtue of an eflQcient atonement. Faith itself does not save, but the merits of ♦ THE SINNER AND HIS SAVIOUIi. Christ's death or atonement on which it rests, does. Faith is the hand only tliat appropriates the blessing. Faith is the act that God requires of us in order to make the atone- ment available for our individual salvation. '« Without faith it is impossible to please God,"—" So then faith Cometh by heai-ing, and hearing by the Word of God." "Almost persuaded " now to believe ; •• Almost persuaded " Christ to receive ; Seems now some soul to say, " Go, Spirit, go Thy way, Some more convenient day On Thee I'll call." •' Almost persuaded," come, come to-day ; "Almost persuaded," turn not away ; Jesus invites you here. Angels are lingering near. Prayers rise from hearts so dear : " wanderer, come." " Almost persuaded," harvest is past ! "Almost persuaded," doom comes at last! " Almost " cannot avail ; " Almost " is but to fail ! S ad, sad, that bitter wail— " Almost— BUT Lost ! "